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ORANGE — Kolbe Hughes has added to his late father’s legacy by earning the rank of Eagle Scout in the same troop.

His father Bill Hughes was himself an Eagle Scout as were his brothers. Bill earned the ranking as a member of Troop 1 of Orange and later served as Scout Master for the same troop while his seven sons were members.

Sadly, Bill passed away in 2021.

Kolbe Hughes’s scouting journey began in the first grade as a Cub Scout with a really good group of friends. By fifth or sixth grade he entered Boy Scouts of America and began attending all of the camps and summer camps and began ranking up.

But there was a bit of time after his father’s death where he pulled away a bit from the organization.

“People never gave up on me. Mr. Billy (Kratzer), the current Scout Master take dot me and let me know that if I ever needed anything or help setting up for the Eagle Scout project he’s always be there for me,” Hughes said. “He didn’t pressure me but it was a constant reminder, and I eventually figured Boy Scouts was my dad’s legacy and I needed to get my butt back in it and get back to business.”

So he got back to business.

His mother Anna Hughes said scouting was a father-son connection so she did some volunteering but for the most part she left scouting to her husband and sons.

Scouting was Bill’s job where he worked to help the youth become men.

“Kolbe’s was probably the hardest Eagle Scout to get because of my husband passing away,” Anna Hughes said. “But he did. The first year was a struggle then after he got back in gear.”

Hughes followed in one of his brothers’ steps in choosing his Eagle Scout project— cleaning St. Mary Cemetery.

The cleaning included trimming branches and power washing a mausoleum, she said.

The Hughes’ are members of St. Mary Church and routinely try to do something for the church and school.

A 2024 graduate of Deweyville High School, Hughes was a member of student council and the National FFA Organization. He also played football and was a member of the power lifting team at the school.

Hughes also plays guitar and sings and occasionally has family and friends over for a hoedown to sing and have a good time.

Hughes has added to his father’s legacy in scouting and also joined an elite group of people before him who also earned their Eagle Scout rank some of which include George W. Bush, Neil Armstrong and Gerald Ford.

“I feel really proud and accomplished,” Hughes said on earning his Eagle Scout. “I know everyone is expecting more from me and I have to meet these expectations from now on.”

Hughes enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and left Monday for boot camp in San Antonio.