Greetings,

My name is Daniel Dempsey, and I have some bad news for the Royal Rangers community. My father, James Daniel Dempsey recently passed away, and I don't think anyone had let the rangers outside his outpost know.

His life was Royal Rangers. He was a commander for over 30 years, probably more like 35 years, in many outposts. He devoted his life to the rangers, full time, and it was undoubtedly his calling and he took it very seriously. I am honored to say that I was raised in outposts that my father was involved in. I know he was solely responsible for the success of every outpost he was involved in. I have seen my dad pressure a church to start rangers; he would help them get it started and do everything he could to get it on its feet and after we would leave a few years later we would hear that that a booming program with dozens of boys went down hill and was stopped. It is unfortunate, but now I see how much God worked through him in this ministry and that often without his hands in it the outposts they would fail. He was a special tool for the Lord.

My father was also very active in FCF; his name was Iron Horse, for his love of trains. He had met and communed with many of the founding members of rangers, like Johnny barns, who gave him a hand carved powder horn. He must have seen something in my father.

I can not possibly list all the events and things my father was involved while a ranger commander (although the 1000+ patches can say a thing or two), but it was his job on earth and he was never confused about his purpose which was leading boys to Christ and making a better future for all. Rangers had a priority over his day job, or any other job or event for that matter. He would miss weddings for camp out's!!! I'll bet that you can count how many commanders there are in the world like my dad on one hand. I promise you that.

I think it only fair that for someone who devoted his life to the lord in this ministry that we memorialize him somehow, if it be only a page in your news letter. It was his life; everything he did was for the rangers. He deserves it and I will donate whatever I must so that other commanders and young men can be inspired by my father. Rangers was his life, and I can only imagine how many of his boys were there to great him when he went to be with the Lord.

Please, pass this on to someone who can help me let every ranger know about my dad. I guarantee there are a few old timers out there who will shed a tear when they hear the iron horse stopped running. I felt led to inform the national office, and I trust this will go to the right hands. Thank you.

Daniel Dempsey,

Ready!!