A former Cambridge City resident received a rare honor within the centuries-long history of the National Eagle Scout Association. Retired Huntington dentist Dr. John Regan was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, an honor only given 2,200 times among the organization’s 2.75 million members.
Dr. Regan became an Eagle Scout of Cambridge City’s Explorer Post 6 in 1953. A Lincoln High graduate in 1954, he attended IU Bloomington and Indiana University School of Dentistry in Indianapolis.
The award recognizes Eagle Scouts who have achieved national prominence within their profession, in addition to local community service. Regan was selected for his tenure as international president of the Academy of General Dentistry, which represents about 40,000 family dentists in the United States and Canada. He also served for 10 years on the 33-member American National Standards Committee, which sets standards for all dental products in this country. He has published original peer-reviewed research in leading dental journals and presented at national conferences, including giving the Convocation Address for the graduating class at the University of Dalhousie in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He founded the Indiana Academy of General Dentistry in 1977.
Locally, in 1966, Dr. Regan was one of the four founders and the first president of Pathfinder Services, which serves individuals living with disabilities. The organization continues services today with a budget of $73 million. He also helped found and served as the first president of the Huntington chapter of the American Cancer Society, plus served as president of the United Fund and library boards.
In 1969, the Indiana Jaycees named him one of five “Outstanding Young Men in Indiana,” and Governor Whitcomb named him a Sagamore of the Wabash in 1980. Regan has served as a member of the Optimist Club since 1964, and is a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church.
Dr. Regan and his wife, Delene, have eight IU graduates, including five boys who are also Eagle Scouts.
A version of this article appeared in the December 10 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.