Arthur Eldred is well-known as the first Eagle Scout, having received the honor in 1912. He hailed from New York State, where the Boy Scouts of America was headquartered at the time. The quest to attain the rank of Eagle would spread quickly throughout the United States.
Arthur Myer, from Bakersfield, would become the first Eagle Scout in 1916 in the State of California. He is also the earliest Eagle Scout in the area that would become the “Area 4” focus of this website.
What follows is research into the first, or earliest, Eagle Scouts in various counties covered in the history on this website. This is the subject of ongoing investigation via many sources, including local newspapers.
We invite contributions and assistance for each Council and County. Use the Contact Page for additional information or questions.
California
- Imperial County: 2 Scouts from Troop 3 made Eagle in 1925. Another article states that there were 10 Eagle Scouts as of that year.
- Kern County: Arthur Myer, Bakersfield, Troop 1, November 15, 19161
- Los Angeles County: Harvey Ziegler, Troop 6, Pomona, John Thompson, Troop 6, Pomona, and John Evans, Troop 7, Pomona, are purported to be the first 3 Eagle Scouts in the County. It is unclear at this point the dates of these three Eagle Scouts.
- Orange County: Morris Davis and Robert White are listed as the first Orange County Eagle Scouts in 1922.
- Riverside County: Richard (Dick) Coughlin, Jerry (Jere) Coughlin, and Stuart Warren, from Blythe Troop 1, were the first Eagle Scouts. Council Eagle List shows a 1918 Eagle Date for Richard Coughlin, but that doesn’t match newspaper accounts from 1921.
- San Bernardino County: Henry Cross, Troop 1 Redlands, July 7, 1925.
- San Diego County: First Eagle Scout is unclear, but a newspaper reference puts the date at 1919. David Wilt is presented his Eagle Scout in August 1920.
- Santa Barbara County: Edward Smith listed as the first Eagle Scout in 1923, with Virgil Durlan being close behind. Both Scouts were from Lompoc Troop 1.
- Ventura County: Walter Whidden and Arthur Schilder, Santa Paula, 1922. Unclear at this point if one Eagle was earlier than the other.
Nevada
- Clark County: Don Earl, Las Vegas, Troop 63, 1932
Arizona
- Cochise County: Bill Hood from Douglas listed as first Eagle Scout in 1924.
- Coconino County: Miles Cureton listed as first Eagle Scout in 1924 or 1925.
- Maricopa County: Unclear but likely early 1920s.
- Pima County: Likely 1920s, by 1929 Catalina Council had 12 Eagle Scouts.