An Eagle Scout after all these years

Cassady Jeremias

On a table surrounded by news articles, press releases and photos

from his stint in the spotlight, Bob Johnson, 80, displays his brand

new, long-awaited Eagle Scout medal.

The Corona del Mar resident started out in the Boy Scouts at age

12 and worked his way from tenderfoot through life scout. He was all

ready to ascend to the rank of Eagle, but life got in the way of his

making it official.

Three careers and 65 years later, Johnson finally made Eagle

Wednesday night at the Ritz Carlton.

“I wasn’t looking for any glory,” he said.

“I just never thought about it,” he added. “I was busy graduating

from high school and going into the service. I had gotten into other

things.”

Other things were the military, a career with Western Airlines as

a pilot for 36 years, a career as a lawyer for 12, two children and

four grandchildren.

His history with the Scouts came up again after his mother passed

away and he came upon a treasure trove of his documents that she had

saved.

It had all been arranged in chronological order, making the

process to finalize his rank a lot easier.

Johnson admitted his unfinished business to his friend Pete

Barrett, who happens to be a former member of the executive board of

the Boy Scout Council and a former Newport Beach mayor. Barrett

contacted the Boy Scouts and started the process to get him

recognized.

Brett Beck, spokesman for the Orange County Council of the Boy

Scouts of America, said it is unusual for someone to be awarded the

rank of Eagle Scout after any time has passed, let alone 65 years.

“We don’t go back and give them to people,” he said.

“The only way it could happen is if all the requirements are made

by your 18th birthday, and they did not get the final board of review

because of an unmitigated responsibility,” he added.

Johnson’s case was rare because he had all the merit badges, each

card he had received when he changed rank and his scout handbook

signed and initialed by his scout leader.

John Lerch, former advancement chairman for the Orange County

Council, said for some reason the Board of Review was never held for

Johnson, but he proved he had done all he needed to do. The council

appealed it to the National Committee and then held his long awaited

Board of Review.

As for other Eagle Scouts, Johnson said he recommends they do it

the proper way.

“I never thought about it, and I never got around to applying,” he

said. “I wish I had thought of it earlier. Then I wouldn’t have to go

though all this now.

“You can title mine ‘The complete study of putting things off,’”

he said.

Only 4% of Boy Scouts ever make it to the coveted rank of Eagle

Scout. Beck said there is a certain aura around Eagle Scouts: They

are humble and do things for other people. He said this is evident in

Johnson by the way he lived his life.

“He really didn’t go after this. We followed through for him,”

Beck said. “It was the right thing to do, so we did it. He has lived

the lifestyle of an Eagle Scout, but never got his badge.”

Johnson said he is still in touch with a couple of his original

troop members, but his scoutmaster, Charlie Stamps, passed away.

“He was wonderful,” Johnson said. “He was very giving and

wonderful to all the kids.”

Johnson is now busy “relaxing” he said, in his home he shares with

his wife, Wendy, owner of an art studio in Newport Beach, and Jack,

his hyperactive 2-year-old Wheaton Terrier.

* CASSADY JEREMIAS is the intern. She may be reached at

cassady.jeremias@latimes.com.