Mike Matzinger
Dave Alexander earned the rank of Eagle Scout from Troop 113 in Long Beach, California, in 1959. The world was a very different place then, but one thing, he insists, has not changed: our country’s need for Scouting.
Alexander continues to give back to the organization that shaped him. Guided by the Scout motto Be Prepared, he has built a remarkable life — as a professional magician, a triathlete with nearly 300 events completed, and the founder of Caljet of America, one of the most successful independent motor fuels terminals in the United States.
“The biggest thing is to Be Prepared,” he says. “It’s not just for Scouts. It’s for every person in the world.”
Alexander launched Caljet in 1982 with nothing more than a $1,000 credit card loan and the mindset that “a Scout is thrifty.” Today, the company stores more than 1.3 million barrels of product and operates debt-free. Visitors to Caljet’s headquarters are greeted by a sign declaring, The Caljet Way is the Scouting Way, a philosophy Alexander instills in his employees through the Scout Oath, Scout Law, and Scout motto.
His commitment to Scouting extends beyond business. At the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in West Virginia, a real road called The Caljet Way links two facilities funded by Alexander: Tridave Lake, a hub for aquatics, and Dave Alexander Low Gear, a premier mountain biking area.
A lifelong athlete, Alexander has completed nearly 300 triathlons, once doing 30 in 30 weeks. At the Summit, a sculpture of him on a bike captures his competitive spirit — the same drive that earned him the Eagle rank at just 14.
He’s also a seasoned magician who began performing for Hollywood crowds as a teenager. “I don’t do tricks,” he says. “I do magic. It’s a performance, and you have to be an actor playing the part of a magician.”
An advocate for opportunity, Alexander has supported the Arizona State University women’s triathlon program and championed the inclusion of young women in Scouting. “Why would you exclude more than 50% of the youth of the world from learning the tools and lessons Scouting provides?” he asks.
Alexander’s contributions have earned him Scouting’s highest honors, including the Silver Buffalo Award and recognition as a Distinguished Eagle Scout. He has served on the National Executive Board, the National Development Committee, the President’s Leadership Council, and as a leader in the Grand Canyon Council.
Married for more than 50 years, he and his wife, Marilyn, share a deep commitment to Scouting. “Marilyn is all in,” he says. “She loves Scouting and is very supportive of what we are doing together.”
For Dave Alexander, Scouting is more than a youth program — it’s a way of life. Through his work, philanthropy, and personal example, he continues to inspire generations to live by the principles that shaped him all those years ago in Troop 113.
https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2024/07/01/donor-profile-dave-alexander-distinguished-eagle-scout-and-silver-buffalo-recipient-believes-in-the-power-of-scouting/