The Distinguished Service Award was established in 1984 by the Eagle Scout Alumni Association of the Desert Pacific Council (then known as the San Diego County Council). The purpose of this award is to recognize individuals or businesses who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the Eagle Scout program in our Council. Although the Distinguished Service Award was established in 1984, several of the first recipients received the award retroactively. On the plaque, their names are followed by the year for which their service is recognized.
The Eagle medal on the award plaque was donated by the widow of San Diego County’s first Eagle Scout, David Wilt. Mr. Wilt was born in 1901. He joined Troop 15 in east San Diego and earned his Eagle Scout rank on May 7, 1920. In July of 1975, Mr. Wilt, along with Randy Gibson, both ESAA members, funded research at San Diego State University to chronicle the early history of Scouting in San Diego. The results of the research were provided to the Council in a written report.
Mr. Wilt passed away on January 19, 1976 and willed his Eagle medal to the Eagle Scout Alumni Association. After David’s wife presented the Eagle medal to the ESAA, the Board voted to appropriately display this medal on a perpetual award plaque to honor recipients of ESAA’s Distinguished Service Award. The plaque was designed by Joe Picard.
