Rex Tillerson's deep ties to North Texas Boy Scouts

While Rex Tillerson is most widely known as the CEO of Exxon Mobile, North Texans know him as a life-long supporter and member of the Boy Scouts.

Tillerson has served in Dallas on the Scouts Governing Council and on the board at the Boy Scouts of America Headquarters. His father was an Eagle Scout, his grandfather was a Scout and even his own son is an Eagle Scout.

Those who know Tillerson in Dallas say his own experience with the Boy Scouts would serve him well in a presidential cabinet.

Pat Currie has worked with Tillerson for the past several years in the Boy Scouts of America governing body, Circle Ten Council.

"Man of convictions. Been a wonderful volunteer for the Boy Scouts,” he said.

Scouts have been a lifelong passion for the oil executive, starting when he was a kid in Wichita Falls. Tillerson achieved what only 4 percent of scouts ever do and became an Eagle Scout.Tillerson achieved what only 4 percent of scouts ever do and became an Eagle Scout.

"He grew up in the program, so he's experienced firsthand what the program does for young people,” Currie said. “But he sees on an ongoing basis what scouting does — the impact it has on the community in a positive way on young people."

Tillerson served as president of Boy Scouts of America from 2010 to 2012 and now sits on its board.

FOX 4 interviewed Tillerson six years ago when the Scouts Regional Council received a sizable donation to expand its reach.

“Scouting enables young people to not only hear those lessons but to put them into practice with their peer group, interacting with adults and participating in the community,” he said in the 2010 interview.

Tillerson is an unconventional choice without any government experience and questions from lawmakers about his ties to foreign leaders like Vladimir Putin. But those who've known him over the years say his leadership skills should not be questioned.

"He's been a visionary. He's been a guy that's helped us take our local Boy Scout program to new heights,” Currie said. “He's been very involved in helping us generate resources to support our scout reach program."

As for his Boy Scout colleagues in North Texas, they couldn't be more proud.

"It's great to see a man that we know to be such a dedicated public servant and a man with such leadership qualities and an Eagle Scout has the opportunity to serve the country in this way,” Currie said.

Tillerson is also a Silver Buffalo Award Recipient. And if confirmed as secretary of state, he would join a list of several former Eagle Scouts to have served in a presidential cabinet.