Scouting, Volume 31, Number 5, May 1943 Page: 6
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Dr. James E. West Honored
Dr. James E. West who served as
Chief Scout Executive of the
Boy Scouts of America for 32 years
was inducted on March 31 as the
Chief Scout of the Boy Scouts of
America at a luncheon in his honor
at the Biltmore Hotel in New York,
extended by members of the Na-
tional Executive Board. A large
group of Scout Executives from
adjacent states and friends of Dr.
West and of Scouting, as well as
leaders in other youth agencies
were present.
The address of tribute was made
by Howard Braucher, President of
the National Recreation Associa-
tion. Mr. Victor F. Ridder, mem-
ber of our Board, presented a hand-
illuminated Resolution paying trib-
ute to Dr. West's outstanding con-
tribution to the Nation, through
the Boy Scout program.
The new Badge of Office of the
Chief Scout was then presented by
Mr. Walter W. Head, President of
the Boy Scouts of America.
Dr. West expressed appreciation
for the tribute that had been paid
to him but indicated that he felt
credit should go to those who had
made it possible for him to accom-
plish what he had done. He spoke
especially of the value of Scout
training at this critical time in our
country's history.
"We have, all of us who believe
in Scouting — and that is the rea-
son why we are here today, pri-
marily — we have an abundant
evidence of the practical values of
this program which we are pro-
moting, and, as Mr. Ridder said,
there is no greater need for that
program than right now.
"I have been honored with the
office of Chief Scout and I propose
to do all I can to help the Boy
Scout Movement, to help civiliza-
tion and all youth organizations;
yes, and to help Dr. Fretwell and
the members of this Board to carry
on the program which has before
it greater opportunity than ever
before in the whole history of
Scouting."
President Walter W. Head presents Chief Scout Insignia to Dr. West
A TRIBUTE
1911 1943
On September 17, 1942, the NA-
TIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD elected
DR. JAMES E. WEST as CHIEF
SCOUT of the BOY SCOUTS OF
AMERICA.
The Board now desires to inscribe
this record of the THIRTY-TWO
YEARS OF LEADERSHIP which Dr.
West, as Chief Scout Executive, gave
to our Movement.
When the Boy Scouts of America was
established in 1910, the country was
at peace. Since then two great wars
have convulsed the world. In war
and in peace, the Scout Movement
under James E. West has given un-
remitting patriotic service to our
Country. Under his leadership Scout-
ing has become synonymous with ser-
vice.
Year by year, the Movement has
increased in numbers, but far more
important has been the increased in-
fluence which the Boy Scouts of Amer-
ica have wielded in the life of Amer-
ican boys. That this is so has been
in large measure due to Dr. West's
guidance. His dynamic personality
and untiring energy have carried the
Movement through good times and
depressions. He has displayed a gift
for wise and farsighted planning,
which has been the admiration of
his associates.
Our Movement is proud of the record
of its heroes, who have saved the lives
of others at the risk of their own.
It is equally proud of the leadership
which could inspire these heroes. We
gladly give credit to Dr. West for that
leadership.
One of the outstanding characteristics
of the Boy Scout Movement is the re-
ligious basis it establishes for a boy's
life. The Twelfth Scout Law was ad-
vocated by Dr. West. He desired that
religion and tolerance be made of
paramount importance in the life of
boys in the United States. Year by
year, this farsighted policy has been
fully justified.
Dr. West has emphasized civic respon-
sibility and good citizenship, feeling
that Scouts are peacetime soldiers de-
voted to promoting peace and good
will, and knowing that boys prepared
in peace can make equally good as
soldiers in war.
The National Executive Board has
taken particular care to record these
facts, because they emphasize the
unique and special contribution which
James E. West has made through his
leadership of the Movement and
through the Movement to the boys
of the Nation.
These things were accomplished by
unremitting work and an untiring in-
terest in every phase of the Boy Scout
Movement. We know of no record of
leadership to excel this. We share
with Dr. West his pride in the growth
of the Movement. America needs
Scouting as never before. Boy Scouts
are prepared and well prepared to
carry the burdens of national duty
and American honor on the field of
battle, and in a post-war world, and
this is due in great measure to the
wise and energetic American, whom
we have designated as our
CHIEF SCOUT
Unanimously adopted by the National
Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of
America, March 31, 1943
Walter W. Head,
(SEAL) President
0 SCOUTING
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 31, Number 5, May 1943, periodical, May 1943; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth313093/m1/8/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.