Eagle Scouts

Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program. Since it was first awarded to Arthur Rose Eldred on August 21, 1912, Eagle Scout has been earned by more than two million young men. Below are just a few notable recipients (the title of Eagle Scout is held for life, thus giving rise to the phrase "Once an Eagle, always an Eagle"):

Arthur Rose Eldred (1912) First Eagle Scout; agricultural official and executive; Navy veteran of World War I; received BSA's Bronze Honor Medal for lifesaving; first of three generations of Eagle Scouts

William Hanna (1924) Animator, director, producer, cartoon artist, and co-founder of Hanna-Barbera studios

Gerald R. Ford (1927) Representative from Michigan (1949–1973); 40th Vice President of the United States (1973–1974); 38th President of the United States (1974–1977)

Philo T. Farnsworth (1932) Inventor, holder of first patent for an electronic television; Eagle award presented to his wife in 2006 as it had been earned but not presented

Neil Armstrong (1947) Astronaut who flew on the Gemini 8 and Apollo 11 missions; test pilot and naval aviator; first human to set foot on the Moon

Steve Fossett (1957) Aviator and adventurer known for his five world record non-stop circumnavigations of the Earth: as a long-distance solo balloonist, as a sailor, and as a solo airplane pilot; president of the National Eagle Scout Association; Silver Buffalo Award recipient

Steven Spielberg (1961) Academy Award-winning film director, film producer, and screenwriter

Ellison Onizuka (1962) Air Force lieutenant colonel and astronaut who flew on shuttle mission STS-51-C; died onboard Space Shuttle Challenger

Mike Rowe (1979) Host of the Discovery Channel series Dirty Jobs; narrator

Shane Victorino (1996) Major League Baseball player, past member of 2008 World Series and 2009 National League Championship Series-winning Philadelphia Phillies, and Los Angeles Dodgers

Merit Beyond the Badge

This independent research was funded by the Templeton Foundation and conducted by Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion, Program on Prosocial Behavior.

The study found that Eagle Scouts are more likely than men who have never been in Scouting to:

Have higher levels of planning and preparation skills, be goal-oriented, and network with others
Be in a leadership position at their place of employment or local community
Report having closer relationships with family and friends
Volunteer for religious and nonreligious organizations
Donate money to charitable groups
Work with others to improve their neighborhoods

Click here to download complete study

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