114 Scouts Who Made Famous (Just in Time for BSA's 114th Birthday)

The Boy Scouts of America will celebrate its 114th birthday on February 8, 2024.

What do you get from a youth movement that has everything? A list of 114 scouts who became famous.

The list includes presidents, Pulitzer Prize winners, astronauts, athletes, celebrities and CEOs.

Two notes before we begin.

1. With millions of Scouting alumni, a list this long may leave some out. Please leave a comment for the most obvious omissions.
2. If a celebrity is an Eagle Scout, we have indicated that in parentheses. When available, we included Eagle years listed in the National Eagle Scout Association database.

Astronaut, doctor, explorer, inventor

• Peter Agrebiologist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2003 (Eagle Scout, Class of 1964)
• buzz aldrinthe second man to walk on the moon
• Dr. James Andrewsa surgeon who has treated many famous athletes, including Drew Brees and Charles Barkley (Eagle Scout).
• neil armstrongastronaut and first man to walk on the moon (Eagle Scout, Class of 1947)
• lee burgerNational Geographic Explorer and Paleoanthropologist (Eagle Scout, Class of 1983)
• Gion Brufordthe first African American to go into space (Eagle Scout)
• Thomas CechChemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1989 (Eagle Scout, Class of 1962)
• Roger ChaffeeAstronaut who died during the Apollo 1 mission (Eagle Scout, Class of 1951)
• Dr. Kenneth H. CooperFather of Modern Aerobics (Eagle Scout, Class of 1946)
• charles dukeastronaut and 10th person to walk on the moon (Eagle Scout, Class of 1946)
• Philo T. Farnsworthinventor of modern television (Eagle Scout, Class of 1932)
• steve fossettrecord-setting aviator (Eagle Scout, Class of 1957)
• jim labelAstronaut who was the commander of the Apollo 13 mission (Eagle Scout, Class of 1943)
• william moanerphysicist who won the 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (Eagle Scout, Class of 1967)
• Ellison Onizukaan astronaut who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion (Eagle Scout, Class of 1964)
• Gitanjali Raoinventor, STEM scout, and 2020 inaugural Time Kid of the Year
• Paul SipleAntarctic explorer who coined the term “windchill” (Eagle Scout, Class of 1924)
• E.O. Wilsonresearcher, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, and world's top ant expert (Eagle Scout, Class of 1944)

athletes, coaches and sports executives

• Hank AaronBaseball Hall of Famer
• Willie BanksOlympian and former world record holder (Eagle Scout, Class of 1971)
• bill bradleyformer New York Knicks basketball player, Hall of Famer (Eagle Scout, Class of 1957)
• chan garyformer head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills (Eagle Scout, Class of 1966)
• Don Garlitsengineer considered the father of drag racing (Eagle Scout, Class of 1946)
• Pat Gillickformer professional baseball executive, Hall of Famer (Eagle Scout, Class of 1951)
• josh hartNew York Knick basketball player (Eagle Scout, Class of 2013)
• stephen holcomb2010 Winter Olympic bobsled gold medalist (Eagle Scout, graduated in 1995)
• Michael Jordanformer NBA player, current NBA team owner
• tommy lasordaformer baseball manager and Hall of Famer
• ewing kaufmanformer owner of the Kansas City Royals and namesake of the stadium (Eagle Scout, Class of 1931)
• Ray Malavasiformer head coach of the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams (Eagle Scout, Class of 1944)
• peter mcloughlinformer president of the Seattle Seahawks (Eagle Scout, Class of 1971)
• emery moorheadformer tight end who won Super Bowl XX with the Chicago Bears (Eagle Scout, Class of 1969)
• Jim Moraformer head coach of the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts (Eagle Scout, Class of 1950)
• nolan ryanformer MLB pitcher, current Houston Astros executive
• Daniel SorensenSuper Bowl winning defensive back for the Kansas City Chiefs, later played for the New Orleans Saints (Eagle Scout, Class of 2008)
• Mark SpitzOlympic swimmer who won a gold medal
• Joe Tismanformer NFL quarterback
• Shane VictorinoFormer professional baseball outfielder, three-time Gold Glove Award winner (Eagle Scout, graduated in 1996)
• Ken Whisenhuntformer head coach of the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans (Eagle Scout, Class of 1976)
• steve youngformer NFL quarterback and sportscaster

authors and journalists

• walter cronkitejournalist, CBS Evening News anchor
• Clive Cusslerbestselling adventure novelist (Eagle Scout, Class of 1946)
• Brandon Mullauthor of children's fantasy series Fable Heaven (Eagle Scout, Class of 1993)
• harrison salisburyPulitzer Prize-winning journalist (Eagle Scout, Class of 1924) who covered the civil rights movement, the Kennedy assassination, and the Vietnam War.

civil rights movement leader

• Ernest Greencivil rights activist, member of the Little Rock Nine (Eagle Scout, Class of 1956)
• Martin Luther King Jr.civil rights icon
• percy suttoncivil rights leader, Tuskegee Airmen pilot, and entrepreneur who revitalized New York's Apollo Theater (Eagle Scout, Class of 1936)

entertainer

• jack blackactor of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, school of rock And that kung fu panda franchise
• frank blairformer host of NBC today Shaw (Eagle Scout, Class of 1930)
• Jon Bon JoviGrammy Award-winning singer-songwriter
• jimmy buffettgrammy award winning musician
• Tony Caballeroactor of school of rock on Nickelodeon and HBO jewel of justice (Eagle Scout, Class of 2001)
• Rob Corddryformer correspondent of daily show and the actor warm bodies and children's hospital (Eagle Scout, Class of 1988)
• harrison fordactor of blade runner and the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises.
• Zach Galifianakisactor of hangover trilogy, lego batman movie and wrinkles in time (Eagle Scout, Class of 1986)
• nolan gouldABC actor modern family
• richard gereactor of Beautiful woman and Chicago
• Andy Griffithactor of andy griffith show and matlock
• William Hannaco-founder of Hanna-Barbera, animator and voice actor (Eagle Scout, Class of 1924)
• John Hederactor of napoleon dynamite (Eagle Scout, Class of 1994)
• Derek Houghactor, and dance with the stars champion
• ashton kutcherFox actor That show from the 70's
• Jay Lenoformer host of NBC tonight show
• andy lewisWorld Champion Slackliner from Super Bowl 46 (Eagle Scout, Class of 2002)
• John LithgowTony Award and Emmy Award winning actor known for roles in: third lock from the sun and crown
• david lynchAcademy Award nominated director elephant man He is also the creator of the Murder Mystery TV series. twin peaks (Eagle Scout, Class of 1962)
• Ozzie Nelsona bandleader and starring actor. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (Eagle Scout, Class of 1920)
• jeff orlowskiDocumentary film director. chasing the ice and chasing coral (Eagle Scout, Class of 2000)
• chris prattactor of parks and recreation and guardian of the galaxy
• Dan Reynoldslead singer of the band Imagine Dragons (Eagle Scout, Class of 2004)
• evan lawactor of madam secretary On CBS (Eagle Scout, Class of 2015)
• mike rowlots of dirty work (Eagle Scout, Class of 1979)
• glenn schofieldone of the creators of the Call of Duty video game franchise (Eagle Scout, Class of 1977)
• steven spielbergAcademy Award winning director. schindler's list and private ryan (Eagle Scout, Class of 1961)
• Creek Stewartsurvivalist, host SOS: How to survive The Weather Channel (Eagle Scout, Class of 1990)
• jimmy stewartAcademy Award winning actor. philadelphia story
• george straitgrammy award winning musician
• John Teshpianist, composer, and Emmy Award-winning television host (Eagle Scout, Class of 1968)
• james valentineguitarist for the band Maroon 5 (Eagle Scout, Class of 1996)
• john wayneAcademy Award winning actor. true grit

politicians and civil servants

• michael bloombergfounder of Bloomberg LP, former Mayor of New York (Eagle Scout, Class of 1954)
• james bradyformer White House Press Secretary (Eagle Scout, Class of 1955)
• Stephen BreyerSupreme Court Justice (Eagle Scout, Class of 1952)
• George W. Bush43rd President of the United States
• Tom C. Clarkformer Supreme Court Justice (Eagle Scout, Class of 1914)
• bill clinton42nd President of the United States
• gerald ford38th President of the United States (Eagle Scout, Class of 1927)
• robert gatesformer Secretary of Defense (Eagle Scout, Class of 1958)
• Jon Huntsman Jr.U.S. Ambassador to Russia (Eagle Scout, graduated in 1975)
• John F. Kennedy35th President of the United States
• henry paulsonformer Secretary of the Treasury (Eagle Scout, Class of 1960)
• ross perotFounder of Electronic Data Systems, Presidential Candidate (Eagle Scout, Class of 1943)
• rick perrySecretary of Energy, former Governor of Texas (Eagle Scout, Class of 1964)
• Donald Rumsfeldformer Secretary of Defense (Eagle Scout, Class of 1949)
• jeff sessionsAttorney General (Eagle Scout, Class of 1963)
• Rex TillersonSecretary of State and former CEO of ExxonMobil (Eagle Scout, Class of 1965)
• togo westformer Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Eagle Scout, Class of 1957)

business leader

• stephen bechtel jr.founder of Bechtel Corporation, the largest construction and civil engineering company in the United States, and patron of the Summit Bechtel Preserve (Eagle Scout, Class of 1940)
• charles dolanfounder of HBO (Eagle Scout, Class of 1941)
• bill gatesco-founder of Microsoft
• william gates seniorphilanthropist, father of Bill Gates (Eagle Scout, Class of 1941)
• howard lincolnformer chairman of Nintendo of America and the Seattle Mariners (Eagle Scout, Class of 1955)
• bill marriottExecutive Chairman, Marriott International (Eagle Scout, Class of 1947)
• michael maurerGameStop CEO (Eagle Scout, Class of 1975)
• jim rogersformer president and CEO of Campgrounds of America (Eagle Scout, Class of 1965)
• T. Gary Rogersformer CEO of Dreyer's Ice Cream (Eagle Scout, Class of 1956)
• brad tildenAlaska Airlines CEO (Eagle Scout, Class of 1976)
• Sam Waltonfounder of Walmart (Eagle Scout, Class of 1934)
• david weekleyFounder and Chairman of David Weekley Homes (Eagle Scout, Class of 1969)

soldiers and war heroes

• Arthur Eldredfirst Eagle Scout and Navy Veteran (Eagle Scout, Class of 1912)
• charles mcgifighter pilot, member of the Tuskegee Airmen, National Aviation Hall of Fame inductee (Eagle Scout, Class of 1940)
• thomas norrisNavy SEAL (Eagle Scout, Class of 1959) who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Vietnam War.
• Mitchell PageMarine (Eagle Scout, Class of 1936) who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the 1942 Battle of Guadalcanal.
• Leo K. ThornesAir Force colonel (Eagle Scout, Class of 1949) who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War.

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