The Gold Medal was created in 1975 to honor adult Scouters with lifetime service of more than twenty years and lasting impact in multi-state regions, nationally, or internationally.

Previously, a few awards for lifetime merit were given in other, lower grades that are now exclusive to youth Scouts for their conservation efforts.

The William T. Hornaday Award Gold Badge was created in 2000 to recognize conservationists with lesser influential service of more than three years, to be awarded at the council level.

The following is a partial list of known Hornaday Award Gold Medal recipients who were recognized by the National Conservation Committee of the Boy Scouts of America for lifetime service in conservation.

During 2020, the William T. Hornaday Gold Medal was transitioned to the BSA Distinguished Conservationist award.