William Boyce was traveling through London on his way to British East Africa when he lost his way and a Scout came to his aid. When Boyce offered to tip the boy, he refused explaining that he was just performing his daily good turn. This simple act has been immortalized as the legend of the Unknown Scout.
This exchange between the Scout and Boyce must have left a strong impression on the businessman, since Boyce went on to found the BSA a few months later. It has been recorded by numerous sources that the Scout did tell Boyce the location of the Scout headquarters where Boyce acquired the manual and literature he used as a guide to establish Scouting in America.
This story is inspiring for many reasons.
First, it demonstrates how a simple act of kindness can have a lasting effect on a person. I’m sure William Boyce never forgot the Scout who so willingly and self-lessly assisted him that day.
Second, it reinforces that inspiration can strike at the least expected times, if a person remains open-minded and non-judgemental. Boyce was not at a business conference or dining with some wealthy dignitary when he had the meeting that would forever alter the course of his life. He was lost, standing in the street, unsure of where to go next, until he spoke to a Scout.
Finally, the story of how Boyce founded the BSA is another example of how one man can change the world by executing an idea and seeing a plan through. Boyce educated himself on Baden Powell‘s Scouting movement, made a conscience decision to start the BSA, and the youth organization he started has gone on for over 100 years and over 110 million participants.
1899 – Robert Baden-Bowell wrote Aids to Scouting
1906/1907 – Baden-Powell wrote Scouting for Boys (published 1908)
1908 – The 1st camp at Brownsea Island was held (Poole Harbour, Dorsett, England)
---- The International Scouting Movement was born ---
1909 – Mr. Boyce's fateful meeting with the Unknown Scout (London, England)
1910 – The Boy Scouts of America incorporated (Feb. 8th)
1911 – The Scout Oath, Scout Law, and badges adopted
1912 – 1st Eagle Scout Rank awarded (Arthur R. Eldred, Oceanside, New York)
1915 – Order of the Arrow founded
1920 – 1st World Jamboree (London, England)
1930 – Cub Scouting program launches
1935 – Silver Jubilee of Scouting (membership hits 1 million)
1937 – 1st National Jamboree (Washington, D.C.)
1952 – Membership hits 20 million
1960 – Golden Jubilee
1965 – 500,000th Eagle Scout Rank awarded (membership hits 40 million)
1975 – Troop 658 founded (September)
1982 – 1 millionth Eagle Scout Rank awarded
1985 – Scouting's 75th Anniversary
2000 – Membership hits 100 million
2010 – Scouting's 100th Anniversary
2019 – Boy Scouting transitions to "Scouts USA" to allows girls to experience the scouting program
2025: The Boy Scouts of America officially changes its name to Scouting America
