I just had to register in order to respond to this thread. I am also part of this mega merger in Michigan where our council just had a merger (takeover) with the council in Grand Rapids. So now the Grand Rapids scout executive controls the new merged (takenover) field service council.
Anyway, heard about the SE, but never met him until summer camp this week. Holy cow, the man was about 6'1" and looks like he weighs 400-450 lbs. Talk about a horrific example of a scouter. When he expounded on his 40+ years in scouting, my only thought was that it had to be behind a desk. I would have
