Eagle Scout, LA Rams Long Snapper Alex Ward Delivers Keynote Talk About Value of Scouting

Scouts BSA of Northwest Florida and South Central Alabama welcomed one of their own back home Thursday night when Los Angeles Rams long snapper and Eagle Scout Alex Ward came to Rocky Bayou Country Club to give the keynote address.

Ward, an Engineering graduate at the University of Central Florida, credited his time as a Boy Scout – as well as his Eagle Scout dad (First Judicial Circuit Judge Jim Ward) and grandad, James Ward, for his success on the gridiron after graduating from Choctawhatchee High School – and in life. He told an audience of donors to the scouting movement that the leadership skills he forged there helped him in an environment like professional football – where there is a lot of change.

“I can tie every knot in the book, but I don’t need that,” Ward said with a wry smile, “But I did take away a leadership aspect where – when I was brand new in the troop, I was following the best that I can and carrying others along with me that are my same age – in my peer group. And I could even encourage those older than me, who might be slacking off a little, but – I could try to encourage them from even a lower spot on the totem pole. Then, you had to mold new relationships as older guys aged out. So, every year – you foster 10 new relationships with new people who are all working [toward the same goal.]”

Ward and three other recent Eagle Scouts shared their experiences in scouting with donors for about an hour before Ward had his long-delayed official Eagle Ceremony – an opportunity he missed because he had to report to UCF Summer Football Camp after graduation.

Quick Facts About Alex Ward

1. His Eagle Scout Project was to build indoor and outdoor benches for the Meigs Middle School football team as well as a lineman chute to help younger offensive linemen learn good blocking form.
2. Ward has an engineering degree and interned with Lockheed Martin while going to school and playing on the UCF football team.
3. Ward is a co-worker with LA Rams Scout and Niceville High School Football Team State Champion Taylor Morton.
4. Ward played in 47 UCF games after joining the team as a preferred walk on for the 2017 season.

Catch Alex on Television

Long snappers don’t get as much time on the field as quarterbacks or linebackers – but if you want to catch Alex on television, you’ll be glad to know that last year the LA Rams had the most field goal attempts of any team in the league last year – with 2.6 per game.

Ward will kick off the preseason against the Dallas Cowboys on August 11 at 3:25 PM.

More About Local Scouting

Alex and other young people from around the Emerald Coast join scout troops that are members of the Gulf Coast Council of the BSA. The council covers 11 counties in Alabama and Florida – and has multiple cub scout and scouting BSA troops to join. Click here to learn more about opportunities in this area.