The medal illustrated in the handbook was a profile of an eagle in flight, but was changed to the current design before any were issued.

[7] 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.

Records show that not only the national officers sat on Eldred's Board of Review, but also included Lord Baden-Powell, who just arrived in the United States earlier in the day of January 31, 1912.

[10] In 1982, 13-year-old Alexander Holsinger of Normal, Illinois, was recognized as the one-millionth Eagle Scout, and Anthony Thomas of Lakeville, Minnesota, was the two-millionth in 2009.

[4][11][12] Hamilton Bradley of Rome, New York, is the earliest known Black Eagle Scout in BSA history.

[24] Additionally they must plan, develop, and lead a service project—the Eagle Project—that demonstrates both leadership and a commitment to duty.

Scouts with a permanent mental or physical disability may use alternate requirements based on abilities, if approved by the council.

[26] The Spirit of the Eagle Award is an honorary posthumous special recognition for any registered youth member who has died in an accident or through illness.

The project is not allowed to benefit the Boy Scouts of America or its councils, districts, units, camps and so forth.

The Eagle Scout candidate was required to plan, develop, and carry out a leadership service project.

In addition, Scouts must choose one each from the following to round out their required merit badges: Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving; Environmental Science OR Sustainability; and, Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling.

Palms represent additional advancement for a youth who has stayed active in the unit after achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

[40] Adult leaders who earned the rank of Eagle Scout as a youth may wear the square knot on their uniform above the left shirt pocket.

The first drop ribbon style medal was issued to the fourth Eagle Scout, Sidney Clapp, a 31-year-old Scoutmaster from West Shokan, New York.

The first 1920 version was similar to the Dieges & Clust design, but with smaller scroll lettering and the standard single knot.

In 1986 the metalized eagle changed back to standard thread due to problems with wearing and the scroll and text were enlarged.

Adults who had earned Eagle Scout began to be recognized in 1934 with a red, white and blue ribbon bar.

Replacement of a card or certificate can be made by application through the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA).

They are disproportionately represented in the military, service academy graduates, in higher education and academia, major professions, the clergy, business and politics.

[58][59]: 149–159  Eagles are more likely to exercise for 30 minutes or more every day, volunteer for religious and nonreligious organizations, have closer relationships with family and friends, be in a leadership position at their place of employment or local community, donate money to charitable groups, and to work with others to improve their neighborhoods.

[63][64][65] For commissioned officer programs, attainment of Eagle Scout is considered a positive factor in determining service academy appointments and award of college ROTC scholarships.

[75] In 2012, the BSA reaffirmed its policies on the exclusion of homosexuals; again a number of Eagle Scouts returned their badges in protest.

[80][81] Four Nobel Prize laureates are known to be Eagle Scouts: Dudley R. Herschbach, Peter Agre, Robert Coleman Richardson, and Frederick Reines.

[82] Eleven Eagle Scouts have been awarded the Medal of Honor: Eugene B. Fluckey,[83] Aquilla J. Dyess,[59] Robert Edward Femoyer,[84] Walter Joseph Marm, Jr.,[85] Mitchell Paige,[59]: 18–19  Thomas R. Norris,[86] Arlo L. Olson,[87] Ben L. Salomon,[88] Leo K. Thorsness,[89] Jay Zeamer Jr.,[90] and Britt K. Slabinski.

At least forty astronauts earned the rank as a youth, including Neil Armstrong and Charles Duke, both of whom walked on the Moon.

[91] Businessmen who have earned the award include Walmart founder Sam Walton,[59]: 88–89  Marriott International CEO J. W. Marriott, Jr.,[56] and Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City and founder of Bloomberg L.P. Eagle Scouts who have held public office include 38th President of the United States Gerald R. Ford,[92] 22nd U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates,[56][59]: 217–218  13th and 21st U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld,[93] 69th U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, former Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Stephen Breyer[59]: 56–59 [94] and 84th U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Senator) Bill Bradley, NBA All-Star Mark Eaton, MLB All-Star Shane Victorino, Daytona 500 winner William Byron, pitcher Jon Moscot, running back David Montgomery, Notre Dame and San Diego Chargers linebacker Manti Te'o, and Philadelphia Eagles guard Landon Dickerson.

[99][100] Religious leaders who have earned Eagle Scout include Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of Baltimore William H. Keeler, and Howard W. Hunter, 14th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

[101] Other notable recipients include Sam Berns, an American teen who had progeria and helped raise awareness about the disease, the novelist and adventurer Clive Cussler,[102] and Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the darknet Silk Road.

[105] January 31 is officially recognized by NESA as National Eagle Scout Day in recognition of Eldred's Board of Review he sat in 1912.