famous scout leaders

What you need to know about the founders

of the BSA

Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell (1857-1941)

•British Soldier and National Hero•After seeing boys using his Army manual for outdoor fun, decided to start a boy’s program•Made sure boys from all walks of life were part of his Boy Scout movement.•First and only “Chief Scout of the World” as proclaimed in the in the first World Scout Jamboree in 1920.•Nickname – “B. - P.”

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Daniel Carter Beard (1850-1941)

•Writer and an Illustrator•Created boy’s program called the Sons of Daniel Boone•Merged into BSA in 1910•On of the first National Commissioners•Nick Name – “Uncle Dan”

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Ernest Thompson Seton(1860-1946)

•Writer and an Illustrator•Created boy’s program called the Woodcraft Indians•Wrote first American Boy Scout Handbook in 1910•Responsible for the American Indian influences in BSA•Developed prototype program named Cub Scouts of America in 1911•First Chief Scout of BSA

William D. Boyce(1858-1929)

•American newspaperman, entrepreneur, magazine publisher, philanthropist, and explorer•Got lost in London fog and was helped by the “Unknown Scout”•Founder of Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910•Focused Scouting on teaching self-reliance, citizenship, patriotism, resourcefulness, obedience, cheerfulness, courage and courtesy to “make men”

James E. West(1876-1948)

•Lawyer and activist for children’s rights and welfare•Served as first Chief Scout Executive for 32 years•Oversaw creation of Sea Scouting (High Adventure) and Cub Scouting•Made sure of Scout involvement on the home front in WWI & WWII•Turned fledging BSA into a strong, cohesive national organization

E. Urner Goodman (1891-1980), Carroll A. Edson (1891-1986)

•Local volunteers turned national professionals•Influenced by Ernest Seton in Native American traditions and Woodcraft Indians•Founders of the Order of the Arrow – Scouting's Brotherhood of cheerful service in 1934•Oversaw growth of Cub Scouting

Edgar M. Robinson (1867-1951)

•Leader in YMCA•Lead BSA after W.D. Boyce founded it in 1910•Helped merge Seton and Beard’s youth groups into the BSA•Recruited Theodore Roosevelt as first honorary President of BSA

William Hillcourt(1900 – 1992)

•Earned Danish equivalent of Eagle Scout•Author of 3 editions of The Boy Scout Handbook, the first American Scoutmaster’s Handbook and first Fieldbook•Boy’s Life columnist from 1932 to 1965•Nickname – “Green Bar Bill”

Frank O. Belzer(1869-1947)

•Co-Founded Troop 9 in 1910 in Irvington in Indianapolis•Early BSA professional in Crossroads of America Council•Creator of Firecrafter organization ( Leadership, Friendship, and Service) in 1920•Helped to organize cub scout camp which was later re-named Camp Belzer in his honor.