Today in History - 1912

The first Eagle Scout medal was awarded in 1912 to Arthur Rose Eldred, a 17-year-old member of Troop 1 of Rockville Centre, Long Island, New York. Eldred was notified that he was to be awarded the rank of Eagle Scout in a letter from Chief Scout Executive James West, dated this date. The design of the Eagle Scout medal had not been finalized by the National Council, so the medal was not awarded until Labor Day. Eldred was the first of three generations of Eagle Scouts; his son and grandson hold the rank as well.