LA GRANDE — Four decades ago Kevin Loveland was a grade schooler who loved the Boy Scouts but dropped out because he loved his mother even more.

Loveland had been in Boy Scouts for two years in the Sandy area when two of his mother’s friends moved out of the area. This was a blow to Loveland’s mother because she and her friends car pooled for their sons in Boy Scouts, sharing the expense of transporting their boys to events. Loveland said his mother feared she would not be able to afford the full expense of transporting her son.

“I overheard her telling her sister on the phone she didn’t think she could afford to keep me in scouting. She was crying,” Loveland said.

Loveland knew his mom would try as hard as she could to keep her son in Boy Scouts but he could not bear to see his mom, a single parent, face any more financial pressure.

So about two days later he told her, “I do not not want to be in Boy Scouts anymore.”

Loveland never rejoined the Boy Scouts as a youth but he never forgot how much he had learned from scouting.

He remained a passionate supporter of scouting, a zeal that explains why he recently received a legacy defining award, the Gene Palmer Eagle Within Award, that goes annually to the top adult Boy Scout volunteer in Union County. The La Grande resident was in Wyoming where he was watching his stepson compete at a collegiate championship rodeo when he received a text message notifying him that he had won the award.

“I was completely taken aback by it,” he said. “It is quite an honor.”

The Gene Palmer Eagle Within Award has been awarded for close to 30 years.

Loveland said he has long been a strong supporter of scouting in La Grande because of the quality young people the area’s Boy Scout program produces.

“Instead of watching video games they are out raking leaves for people who need help. They are all such great citizens,” he said.

Loveland said that scouting has long been strong in La Grande and other small rural communities in part because of its small size. He explained that in such a community it is easier to see all of the things Boy Scouts do for their community.

“In a small town people are seen more and are recognized for what they do,” he said. “This generates positive feedback, giving the program more momentum.”

La Grade Boy Scout volunteer Eric Valentine, scoutmaster emeritus for Troop 514, said Loveland richly deserves the award.

“Kevin is an unsung hero who does things for the community without being visible,” he said. “He is always helping other people and causes.”

Loveland, the owner of Loveland Funeral Chapel, founded the Safe Rides program which has provided more than 125,000 free rides home to people in Union County during holidays and events where people often celebrate with alcohol.

La Grande Boy Scout volunteer Stu Spence said Loveland is a remarkable volunteer supporter of scouting and has a special appreciation of how it helps young people.

“He values all of the life skills scouting teaches,” he said.

Loveland credits Boy Scout volunteers Jeff Kruse, Eric Johnson, Valentine and Russ West with doing an excellent job of keeping connected to the local scouting scene. Loveland said he hopes the contributions he makes to scouting can be used to help young people who might not otherwise be able to afford to be in Boy Scouts.

“I want to help people who were in the same situation I was in,” he said.