As someone who earned the rank of Eagle Scout, Declan Birmingham always encourages the next generation to pursue the highest heights of the boy scouts. The lessons learned along the way helped shape Declan Birmingham into the dedicated student he is today. Pride in the scouts only grows when you consider some famous American leaders who got their start in the Scouts. Today, Declan Birmingham of Evanston will share details on famous Eagle Scouts.
You can’t mention famous Eagle Scouts without mentioning the original scout, Arthur Eldred. Arthur Eldred became the first scout to earn the Eagle Scout distinction in 1912. The nation’s first Eagle Scout was 17 years old when he received the program’s top merit badge. Arthur Eldred was very close to being named a Wolf Scout, but the Boy Scouts of America determined that Eagle Scout was more American sounding. Declan Birmingham tends to agree.
The requirements were a bit different for the pioneer of Eagle Scouts as some of the talents of Arthur Eldred, as noted by the Scouts at the time, included horsemanship, swimming, poultry farming, dairying, and electricity. His accomplishments were so vast that the New York Times reported that “his left coat sleeve is so covered with medals that there is scarcely room for another.” Arthur set the standard for what an Eagle Scout should be and represent. Arthur’s hard work helped create the foundation for future generations of scouts.
One of the most significant lessons learned by an Eagle Scout is the need to be prepared for anything. It could be argued that President Gerald Ford entered the Oval Office under the most unforeseen circumstances in United States history. The former Eagle Scout was tasked with being the first Vice President chosen after the President resigned. The country was in disarray on the heels of the Watergate scandal. The leadership lessons gained in the Scouts prepared President Ford for life in the Navy, where he attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander. His leadership helped the country through a very difficult time in that nation’s history. Other Presidents to be former boy scouts include Bill Clinton, JFK, and George W. Bush, but only President Ford reached the rank of Eagle Scout.
The most financially successful former Eagle Scout is Sam Walton. For those unfamiliar with Sam Walton, he is the founder of Wal-Mart. There’s been some debate as to whether Bill Gates or Sam Walton should be considered the most financially successful Eagle Scout, but Declan Birmingham notes that Bill Gates ranked out as a Life Scout. The Co-Founder of Microsoft has claimed that certain areas of outdoorsmanship and hiking were significant hurdles for him. Fortunately for Bill Gates, his incredible list of philanthropic work led him to receive the Silver Buffalo from the Boy Scouts of America in 2010. The Silver Buffalo is the most prestigious honor the Boy Scouts can bestow.
Finally, one Eagle Scout is always in the news come movie award season. Steven Spielberg, who alluded to his history in the Scouts in his most recent film, started making films during his days in the Boy Scouts. At just 11 years old, Steven Spielberg used his Dad’s movie camera to film a short film entitled “The Last Gunfight.” While this film did not lead to an Oscar nomination, it did lead to a merit badge for photography.
One thing that Declan Birmingham is proud of when looking over the above list of former Eagle Scouts is how the lessons learned in scouting can lead people to success in many industries. Whether a scout wants to pursue their dream of political success or become one of the most famous filmmakers in the world, the Boy Scouts can set an individual up for sustained success.
