Dabney Kennedy

Dabney Kennedy, of Houston, Texas, went to be with The Lord on Sunday, June 5, 2022. He was a devoted Christian, loving husband, wonderful father, awesome grandfather, and father-in-law. He truly gave inspirational leadership to all and was a devoted volunteer who challenged others to seek a higher vision.

Dabney was born March 31, 1936 in Stephenville, Texas, a little town about 70 miles southwest of Fort Worth. He enrolled in Cub Scouting and earned the Arrow of Light. When old enough, he became a Boy Scout, serving first as patrol leader and later as senior patrol leader. He earned the Eagle Award, with palms, and then went on to join Explorers to earn that program’s Silver Award.

Over a 50 year period, Dabney was the Lodge Adviser for Colonneh Lodge, the Section OA Adviser, and a Vice-Chairman of the National Order of the Arrow Committee. In every position, he was a leader who mentored our young people (including “life” advice as well as Scouting advice) and an innovator. He was an astute businessman who helped put all programs on a self-funding basis that generously supported superior programming, reduced costs for attendees, and financially supported the local council or BSA. He was the chief architect of the very successful national programming of the Order of the Arrow in the 1980s and 1990s. Many of the current generation of Scouting’s national and international leadership were influenced by Dabney. He received the Silver Buffalo Award in 2021 and is one of only five recipients of the Order of the Arrow’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

These accomplishments, however impressive themselves, cannot begin to describe the positive influence Dabney left on the Order of the Arrow. He made an impact on the Order by designing and creating the Founder’s Award. As a visionary of his time, he realized the need to have a national event every summer and the importance of electing new national youth officers for one-year terms instead of two-year terms. Dabney was appointed to the National OA Committee in 1970 and quickly got involved in the development and implementation of the Order’s national programs. He helped to create the OA 60th Anniversary / Bicentennial Award, rolled out in 1975, and later NOAC participation awards and the OA 75th Anniversary Award. He created the OA’s history in coins and guided the production and preservation of the video footage of Dr. Goodman..

In 1955 he met the love of his life, Peggy Jean Parks, and they were married June 18, 1960. In 1958 he graduated from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas and then attended the University of Texas School of Pharmacy. He had a very successful 30-year career working for the Dow Chemical Company as a Regional Sales Manager, National Sales Trainer, and National Safety Manager. Dabney received both the Most Outstanding Retiree Award and two Presidential Awards for Community and National Service from Dow Chemical. He retired from Dow in 1993.

Dabney was an active member of Westbury Baptist Church in Houston, Texas since 1965. Since retirement, Dabney spent countless hours dedicating much of his time working to reduce the threat of flooding in and around his home city of Houston. He has served as an officer for the Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy for over 20 years. He helped lead a partnership with the Harris County Flood Control District that led to the development of a 290-acre park that provides flood control and contributes to soil and wetlands conservation. The City of Houston has recognized his efforts with the naming of the area as the Dabney Kennedy Scout Pavilion. He received the Neighbor of the Year Award from the City of Houston and the State of Texas House of Representative Day recognition in 1990. He received the Citizen of the Year by the Greater Southwest Houston Chamber of Commerce in 2000. He served as President of Westbury Area Improvement Corporation, was recognized for the Creation of the Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy, and served as its VP. He was a member of the Harris County Flood Control Advisory Board in 2008 and member of the Southwest School District Task Force from 2008 to 2013.

Those who were acquainted with Dabney and have benefited from his counsel know first-hand of his effectiveness as an adviser and mentor and of his persistence and determination. He is known to be inspired and inspiring, motivated and motivating. He was passionate about everything he undertook, an innovator and a peacemaker. His honesty, sincerity, humor, and warmth of heart garnered many friends though the years. They along with his wife, sons, daughters-in-law, and grandkids were his greatest joys of his life. He was a knowledgeable collector of Order of the Arrow memorabilia, coins, and stamps. He shall be remembered by his large circle of friends and family for the special way he touched their lives.

Dabney’s other lifetime passion was spending time at the ranch with his family and friends. He was always preparing for the next time there with a trip to the store for supplies, whether that was for the upcoming hunting season or the many ranch projects he dreamed up. He was the ultimate handyman to all and a storytelling extraordinaire.

Dabney (Big Dad to all who loved him) is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Peggy; two Eagle Scout sons, Mark and David; his daughters-in-law, Cammie and Silena; and his proudest legacies in life his five grandchildren, Cade, Isabel, Ashley, Cara, and Madison. He also leaves behind loved nieces and nephews from Florida and Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his father, Fermer Jerome (Babe) Kennedy, his mother, Americas Valera (Dink) Kennedy and his brother, Burts Johnson Kennedy.

SPECIAL SAYING

“We can do more THAN we think we can; We can do more WHEN we think; We can do more, DON’T you think” by Dr. Milton Cunningham, Pastor of Westbury Baptist Church

Memorial celebration of Dabney’s life will be he held on Wednesday, June 15th at 11am at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home 4525 Bissonnet Street Bellaire, Texas. Please plan to join us for a BBQ lunch reception after the event. Service will also be live streamed found at https://www.facebook.com/285451228604923

In lieu of flowers the family asks donations to be made to the Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy or to Westbury Baptist Church.

Willow Waterhole Dabney Kennedy Scout Pavilion

To donate by mail, make your check payable to: Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy

By Credit Card or PayPal

https://www.willowwaterhole.org/support#:~:text=By%20Credit%20Card,DONATE%20NOW!

Or mail it to:

Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy-Dabney Kennedy Scout Pavilion

P.O. Box 35676

Houston, TX 77235-5676

Willow Waterhole Greenway

Tucked away in the southwest Houston neighborhood of Westbury just south of Meyerland is a stunning gem of nature still relatively unknown to Houstonians. Willow Waterhole Greenway is a 300-plus-acre network of lakes, prairie, marsh, islands, native plants, wildlife, and park amenities. This unusual urban setting is designed to protect against Houston’s inevitable flooding and to bring the community together for conservation, education, and recreation.

Westbury Baptist Church -10425 Hillcroft, Houston Texas 770976 713-723-6428

Click to give- https://wbchouston.org/give