Farewell Dr Gustavo Vollmer

Dr Gustavo J. Vollmer Herrera was the co-founder and former chairman of the World Scout Foundation. A prominent member the Vollmer business clan in Venezuela, he had a deep interest in the field of education and promoted numerous social development initiatives in his lifetime.

He joined the Venezuelan Scout Association in 1955 and was eventually appointed its Vice President and the permanent Chairman of the Financial Committee. He served in Venezuela and internationally as a member of the Interamerican Scout Committee, and was a familiar figure at various Regional Scout Conferences, World Scout Conferences, World Jamborees and World Rover Moots. He was also a member of the World Scout Committee of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) for 12 years (1963 – 1969, 1973 – 1979).

In 1965, he received the Silver Buffalo Award for distinguished service from the Boy Scouts of America. He was also the recipient of the El Caballo de Plata or the Silver Horse Award from Venezuela and the Youth of America Award from the Americas region. Nevertheless, the highest honour was no doubt the Bronze Wolf, which he was awarded in 1969 at the 22nd World Scout Conference, as recognition of his exceptional services to Scouting. He held the Wood Badge for Group Leader and Commissioner as well as other training courses.

In the last five decades, he played a vital role in the consolidation, expansion and financial support of WOSM. His leadership, charisma and dedication drew supporters such as Thomas Watson Jr., William D. Campbell, Laszlo Nagy and Salvador Fernandez Bertran. Lord Baden Powell once said, “The most worthwhile thing is to try to put happiness into the lives of others.” Dr Gustavo Vollmer was always at the service of others and his life was strongly influenced by Scouting values. He passed away on 2 November 2014 at the age of 91, in the city of Caracas, Venezuela.