Carmel man earns Boy Scouts top honor

ORONO – Ernest Kilbride of Carmel recently was presented with the prestigious Silver Beaver Award by the Katahdin Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Kilbride, director of engineering for Cianbro in Pittsfield, was surprised and overwhelmed by the award.

“I am honored and humbled,” he said. “There are so many who share this award with me – my wife, my sons, the council, along with everyone who dedicates themselves to scouting. This is a tremendous honor.”

A Scout in his youth, Kilbride, along with his wife, Mary, volunteered as adult leaders when their two sons became Cub Scouts. Taking on the cub master responsibilities for Pack 41, Kilbride increased the troop size to 100 boys with the assistance of many volunteers.

As his sons grew older, Kilbride became assistant scoutmaster of Troop 41. He completed cub leader basic training, scoutmaster fundamentals and earned wood badge beads in 2002.

“Ernie Kilbride represents everything that scouting stands for – participatory citizenship, trustworthiness and unselfish service to others,” said Jim Rushton, Scout executive for the Katahdin Area Council. “The Silver Beaver Award honors Ernie’s achievements and enthusiasm for scouting. His leadership continues to enrich the lives of more than 9,000 Scouts and leaders in eastern and northern Maine.”

Regulated by the National Court of Honor, the Silver Beaver Award is the highest honor a scouting volunteer can achieve. Only one Silver Beaver Award is given for every 75 Boy Scout units or troops.

Kilbride serves on the council executive board as district chairman and council vice president of administration. He was elected Katahdin Area Council president in May. He has been involved in many district and council activities including the Scout skill show, Cub Scout physical fitness day, Penobscot golf outing, COPE committee, strategic planning committee and the distinguished citizen award dinner committees for the last three years.

Kilbride coaches Peewee basketball and Little League baseball. He also provides pro bono engineering services to Carmel, Pittsfield and Oakland. He is a member of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce and is a graduate of the Leadership Maine program.