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The title of Eagle Scout for a boy has always carried with it a special
significance, not only in Scouting, but also as he enters higher education,
business or industry, and community service. The award is a performance-based
achievement, the standards of which have been well-maintained over the years. Not
every boy who joins a Boy Scout troop earns the Eagle Scout rank – only about
5 percent of all Boy Scouts do so. This represents more than 2 million Boy
Scouts who have earned the rank since 1912 when the Boy Scouts of America awarded the first Eagle Scout Award to Arthur Eldred. Nevertheless, the principles
contained in the Scout Oath, the Scout Law, and the goals of
Scouting – citizenship training, character development, and
personal fitness – remain important for all Scouts, whether or not they
attain the Eagle Scout rank.
Rank Advancement
To earn the Eagle Scout Award (the highest advancement rank in Scouting), a
Boy Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and
outdoor skills. Although many options are available to demonstrate proficiency
in these areas, a number of specific skills are required to advance through
the ranks – Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle.
To advance, a Boy Scout must pass specific tests that are organized by
requirements and merit badges.
Merit Badges
Merit badges
signify the mastery of certain Scoutcraft skills, as well as
helping boys increase their skill in an area of personal interest. Of
the 120
merit badges available, 21 must be earned to qualify for Eagle Scout. Of
this
group, 12 badges are required, including: First Aid, Citizenship in the
Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World,
Communications,
Environmental Science, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Camping,
and
Family Life. In addition, a Scout has a choice between Emergency
Preparedness
and Lifesaving and a choice from among Cycling, Hiking, and Swimming.
The remaining 9 minimum merit badges may be selected by the Scout
himself. It is not uncommon for a man to have been introduced to a
career from earning a merit badge as a Scout.
Scoutmaster Conferences
At each of his rank advancements, a Boy Scout takes part in a Scoutmaster
conference. These conferences help the Scout to set goals for himself in line
with his individual talents and abilities. At each conference, the Scoutmaster
helps him evaluate how well he accomplished his present goal and then works
with him in setting new goals. This is followed by a Board of Review, which is an interview
before a panel of adult volunteers.
Service and Responsibility
Beginning with the Star rank, and continuing through Life rank and Eagle, a Scout
must demonstrate participation in increasingly more responsible service projects.
At these levels, he also must demonstrate leadership skills by holding one or
more specific youth positions of responsibility in his patrol and/or troop.
After becoming a Life Scout, a further requirement of the Eagle Scout is to plan,
develop, and give leadership to others in a Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project that is helpful to a religious institution, school, or community.
Steps in Advancement
Advancement, one of the eight methods by which the aims of Scouting are achieved,
has four steps through each award level.
First, the Scout learns. Much of his learning comes from other boys in
his patrol or troop and by active participation in troop program. His patrol
activities are directed toward the skills he needs. Every troop hike, camping
trip, or other activity offers potential learning experiences. A Scout learns
to pitch a tent by pitching one, to use a compass by finding directions, and to
cook a meal by having to prepare and eat it.
Second, the Scout is tested. The specific requirements determine the kind
of testing. Verbal testing is sufficient in some instances. In other instances, a
Scout must demonstrate his skills by doing.
Third, the Scout is reviewed. The purpose of the review is to ensure that
all requirements for advancement have been met. This includes a check of the Scout's
attitude and practice of the ideals of Scouting, in addition to his Scoutcraft
skills. The decision regarding whether a Scout has met the required standards
to qualify for rank advancement begins with the troop and, for the Eagle Scout
rank, is approved by the
district, local council,
and finally, the National Council.
Fourth, the Scout is recognized. The final step in advancement involves
presentation of the badge, usually at a ceremony before the entire troop.
Boy Scouts With Disabilities
Boy Scouts with disabilities may qualify for the Eagle Scout rank. Each
Scout must earn as many of the required merit badges as he can. He then submits
an application for alternate merit badges. His BSA local council determines the alternate merit badges for him to earn.
Some notable Eagle Scouts
- Gary L. Ackerman – (1942- ) U.S. Representative from New York
- James C. Adamson – (1946- ) Shuttle Astronaut
- Peter Agre, PhD – (1949- ) Nobel Prize receipient for chemistry
- William V. "Bill" Alexander – (1934- ) U.S. Representative from Arkansas
- Lamar Alexander – (1940- ) Distinguished Eagle Scout, U.S. Senator from Tennessee, Governor of Tennessee, Secretary of Education, presidential candidate & attorney
- Neil Armstrong – (1930- ) Distinguished Eagle Scout, Apollo Astronaut and first man to walk on the moon
- Dr. James P. Bagian, MD – (1952- ) Shuttle Astronaut
- Willie Banks – (1956- ) Olympian, Former World Record Holder, Triple Jump and Long Jump
- Albert Belle – (1966- ) Professional baseball player
- Charles Bennett – (1910-2003) U.S. Representative from Florida
- William Bennett – (1943- ) Secretary of Education
- Lloyd M. Bentsen Jr – (1921- ) Secretary of the Treasury, U.S. Representative & Senator from Texas
- Jesse F. "Jeff" Bingaman – (1943- ) Senator from New Mexico
- Sanford D. Bishop – (1947- ) U.S. Representative from Georgia
- Michael Bloomberg – (1942- ) Mayor of New York City, founder of Bloomberg News
- Kenneth D. Bowersox – (1956- ) Shuttle Astronaut
- Bill Bradley – (1943- ) Pro basketball star and U.S. Senator from New Jersey
- Charles E. Brady – (1951- ) Shuttle Astronaut
- James S. Brady – (1940- ) Press Secretary to President Ronald Reagan
- Milton Caniff – (1907-1988) Distinguished Eagle Scout, Comic Strip Artist "Steve Canyon"
- Gerald P. Carr – (1932- ) Skylab Astronaut
- Manley L. "Sonny" Carter, Jr. – (1947-1991) Shuttle Astronaut
- Roger B. Chaffee – (1935-1967) Astronaut
- Gregory E. Chamitoff – (1962- ) Astronaut
- W. Thad Cochran – (1937- ) Senator from Mississippi
- Barber B. Conable – (1922-2003) President, World Bank
- Richard O. Covey – (1946- ) Distinguished Eagle Scout, Shuttle Astronaut
- Michael D. Crapo – (1951- ) Senator from Idaho
- John O. Creighton – (1943 -) Shuttle Astronaut
- John W. Creighton Jr – (1932- ) President & CEO of Weyerhaeuser Company, CEO of United Airlines, Director of Unocal
- William E. Dannemeyer – (1929- ) U.S. Representative from California
- William C. DeVries, MD – Surgeon and educator - transplanted first artificial human heart
- Michael Dukakis – (1933- ) Governor of Massachusetts, presidential candidate
- Donn F. Eisele – (1930-1987) Apollo 7 Astronaut
- Arthur R. Eldred – (1895-1951) The First Eagle Scout
- Michael B. Enzi – (1944- ) Senator from Wyoming
- Daniel J. Evans – (1925- ) U.S. Senator from Washington and Governor of Washington
- David Farabee – Texas State Representative
- Thomas S. Foley – (1929- ) Speaker of the House and U.S. Representative from Washington
- Gerald R. Ford – (1913-2006) Distinguished Eagle Scout, 38th President of the U.S.
- Patrick G. Forrester – (1957- ) Shuttle Astronaut
- Steven Fossett – (1944-
) Tried several times to fly solo around the world in a hot air balloon
and finally did it in 2002, won the Chicago to Mackinaw boat races,
competed in the Iditarod dog race, and competed in several iron man
triathlons, and among other things lives the Scouting mottos both Cub
and Boy Scout by doing his best and being prepared
- Murphy J. "Mike" Foster – (1930- ) Governor of Louisiana
- Michael E. Fossum – (1957- ) Shuttle Astronaut
- Charles G. Fullerton – (1936- ) Shuttle Astronaut
- John Garamendi – (1945-
) Insurance Commissioner of California, former Deputy Secretary of the
Interior,California State Senator, California State Representative
- Robert M. Gates – (1942?- ) President of Texas A&M University, Director of Central Intelligence (CIA)
- Richard A. Gephardt – (1941- ) House Minority Leader, U.S. Representative from Missouri
- William G. Gregory – (1957- ) Shuttle Astronaut
- S. David Griggs – (1939-1989) Shuttle Astronaut
- John D. Hayworth Jr. – (1958- ) U.S. Representative from Arizona
- Jeb Hensarling – (1957- ) U.S. Representative from Texas
- Jeffrey A. Hoffman – (1944- ) Shuttle Astronaut
- Gregory H. Johnson – (1962- ) Astronaut
- Thomas D. Jones – (1955- ) Shuttle Astronaut
- Michael Kahn – (1935- ) Stage director, Oscar winning film editor
- Alfred C. Kinsey, PhD – (1894-1956) insect biologist, human behavior researcher
- John Koncak – Professional basketball player
- Mark C. Lee – (1952- ) Shuttle Astronaut
- Sheldon Leonard – (1907-1997) actor, director, producer, 3 time Emmy award winner
- Steven W. Lindsey – (1960-
) Shuttle Astronaut - He was the pilot for STS-95 when John Glenn
returned to space as a Senator. He made Eagle in Troop 161 in Temple
City, California.
- Gary Locke – (1950-
) Governor of the State of Washington, the first Chinese-American
Governor in the contiguous United States, and selected as a
Distinguished Eagle Scout by NESA
- James A Lovell, Jr – (1928- ) Navy pilot, Astronaut, President of National Eagle Scout Association. Flew on Gemini 7, 12 & Apollo 8, 13
- Richard G. Lugar – (1932- ) Distinguished Eagle Scout, U.S. Senator from Indiana, 1996 presidential candidate
- J. Willard Marriott, Jr – Chairman & CEO of Marriott Corporation
- William McCool – (1961-2003) Astronaut, Pilot of U.S. Space Shuttle Columbia, U.S. Navy Commander
- Michael McNulty – (1947- ) U.S. Representative from New York
- W. Walter Menninger MD – Physician, civil servant
- Michael Moore – (1954- ) Author and filmmaker, nominated for an Oscar for "Bowling for Columbine", filmmaker of "Fahrenheit 9/11"
- Jim Mora – (1935- ) NFL football coach
- John P. Murtha – (1932- ) U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania
- Earl B. "Ben" Nelson – (1941- ) Senator from Nebraska
- Oswald G. "Ozzie" Nelson – (1906-1975) Distinguished Eagle Scout, actor
- Samuel A. Nunn – (1938- ) U.S. Senator from Georgia
- Brian T. O'Leary – (1940- ) Scientist, Astronaut
- Ellison S. Onizuka – (1946-1986) Challenger Astronaut, USAF Lt. Colonel
- Stephen S. Oswald – (1951- ) Shuttle Astronaut, Navy Rear Admiral
- Mitchell Paige – (1918-2003) Distinguished Eagle Scout, Colonel (USMC), Congressional Medal of Honor recipient
- Francis J. Parater – (1897-1920) Nominated for Sainthood by Diocese of Richmond, VA. died at age 22 in 1920 in Rome, while at seminary.
- Scott E. Parazynski – (1961- ) Shuttle Astronaut
- H. Ross Perot – (1930- ) Distinguished Eagle Scout, Self-made billionaire, Founder of Electronic Data Systems Corporation and The Perot Group, presidential candidate
- Rick Perry – (1950- ) Governor, State of Texas
- Donald R. Pettit – (1955- ) International Space Station Astronaut
- James "J.J." Pickle – (1913-2005) Distinguished Eagle Scout, U.S. Representative from Texas, proudly displayed his Eagle plaque inside his Congresional Office
- Samuel R. Pierce Jr – (1922-2000) Secretary of Housing & Urban Development
- Robert J. Portman – (1955- ) U.S. Representative from Ohio
- Kenneth S. Reightler, Jr. – (1951- ) Shuttle Astronaut
- Frederick Reines – Nobel Prize winner in Physics
- T. Gary Rogers – Chairman and CEO of Dreyer's Ice Cream
- Jim Rogers – Distinguished Eagle Scout, CEO of Kampgrounds of America (KOA)
- Dana Rohrabacher – (1947- ) U.S. Representative from California
- Donald H. Rumsfeld – Distinguished Eagle Scout, Secretary of Defense
- Harrison E. Salisbury – (1908-1993) Pulitzer Prize Winning Author
- James Sanderson – (1925- ) Vice Admiral, US Navy (Ret), Deputy Chief US Atlantic Fleet
- Richard A. Searfoss – (1956- ) Shuttle Astronaut
- Elliot M. See, Jr. – (1927-1966) Gemini Missions Astronaut
- Jefferson B. "Jeff" Sessions – (1946- ) U.S. Senator from Alabama
- Pete Sessions – (1955- ) U.S. Representative from Texas
- William S. Sessions – (1930- ) Distinguished Eagle Scout, FBI Director
- Paul A. Siple – (1908-1968) Antarctic explorer
- Isaac
"Ike" Skelton – (1931- ) U.S. Representative from Missouri
- Samuel K. "Sam" Skinner – (1938- ) Secretary of Transportation, CEO Commonwealth Edison
- Christopher H. Smith – (1953- ) U.S. Representative from New Jersey
- Gordon H. Smith – (1952- ) Senator from Oregon
- Steven Spielberg – (1946- ) Distinguished Eagle Scout,
Film Director/Producer, from Scottsdale, AZ, made a movie of his troop
while getting Photography MB. Helped to design requirements for the
Cinematography MB.
- Wallace Stegner – (1909-1993) Writer and college professor, won Pulitzer Prize in 1972 for "Angle of Repose"
- Bart T. Stupak – (1952- ) U.S. Representative from Michigan
- Percy E. Sutton – (1920- ) Attorney, Chairman of the Board of Inner City Broadcasting Corp.
- Joseph R. "Joe" Tanner – (1950- ) Shuttle Astronaut
- John Tesh – (1952- ) TV celebrity and pianist
- Meldrim Thomson, Jr – (1912-2001) 3-term Governor of New Hampshire
- Patrick J. Toomey – (1961- ) U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania
- Richard H. Truly – (1937-1992) Vice-Admiral USN and NASA Space Flight Associate Administrator
- David M. Walker – (1944-2001) Shuttle Astronaut
- Sam Walton – (1918-1992) Founder of Wal-Mart, Medal of Freedom recipient
- Togo D. West – (1942- ) Secretary of the Army, Secretary of Veteran's Affairs
- William C. Westmoreland – (1914-2005) Distinguished Eagle Scout, U.S. Army General, Army Chief of Staff
- Edward O. Wilson – (1929- ) Pellegrino University Professor and curator of entomology at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University
- Donald F. Wright – Distinguished Eagle Scout, CEO Times Mirror Co.
- Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr – (1920-2000) Distinguished Eagle Scout, Admiral, Chief of Naval Operations
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