Regan earns Distinguished Eagle Scout award

Shown in the photo above is Dr. John Regan, right, as he accepts the Distinguished Eagle Scout recognition from John Gliot, executive director for the Anthony Wayne Area Council, Scouting America.

Retired Huntington Dentist Dr. John Regan was honored as a Distinguished Eagle Scout at a recent gathering at the Huntington County History and Education Center. The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is the highest accolade bestowed by the National Eagle Scout Association. Dr. Regan earned his Eagle Scout rank on January 14, 1953, as a member of Post 6 in Cambridge City, Indiana.

The award was established in 1969 by the Boy Scouts of America, National Eagle Scout Association, to honor Eagle Scouts who have achieved national recognition, fame or prominence within their profession or for their service to the country, in addition to local community service.

The criteria specify that candidates must have at least 25 years of “Time in Service,” starting from the date they earned the Eagle rank. This requirement was set because most nominees typically spend time building their careers, earning recognition from peers, receiving awards, gaining fame or prominence, and other qualities considered when selecting the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award recipients.

Dr. Regan remained active in Scouting while managing a busy professional career. He served as Tomahawk District Chair and Friends of Scouting Chair for several years. He enjoyed taking scouts to Philmont Scout Ranch, the National Jamboree and the Region Seven Canoe Base in Ely, Minnesota. Dr. Regan and his five sons are all Eagle Scouts.

After graduating from Indiana University School of Dentistry, Dr. Regan served his country as a Captain in the U.S. Army Dental Corps from 1962 to 1964. In 1971, he founded the Indiana Academy of General Dentistry and has served as that organization’s secretary-treasurer and president. He has held leadership roles in numerous national and international dental organizations throughout his career.

Outside of dentistry, Dr. Regan was one of the four principal founders of Pathfinder Services and served as its first board president. He also helped establish Huntington County United Fund (now the United Way). He was a founding member and the first president of the Huntington County Chapter of the American Cancer Society.

Dr. Regan has been an active member of the Huntington Optimist Club since 1964 and was named “Optimist of the Year” in 2017. His other local, state and national recognitions include Huntington Jaycees Awards, Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Member, Sagamore of the Wabash, Fellow of the American College of Dentists, the Scouts Silver Beaver Award, the LaMont Award, Chief of the Flint Springs Tribe and Huntington County Honors.