James Lovell

By Mike Matzinger

James Arthur Lovell Jr. (Eagle Scout Class of 1943) was not only a pioneer in space exploration but also a lifelong champion of the values he learned in Scouting. The Eagle Scout astronaut, whose steady leadership during the Apollo 13 crisis saved his crew and inspired the world, died in 2025 at age 97.

Lovell’s journey to the stars began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where as a young Scout he developed the skills, discipline, and curiosity that would define his career. After earning Eagle, he remained devoted to Scouting for the rest of his life, serving in leadership roles from the local to the national level. His dedication earned him Scouting’s highest volunteer honor — the Silver Buffalo Award in 1992 — as well as the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in 1990 and NESA’s Distinguished Service Award in 2023. He served as Chairman of the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA), tirelessly working to reconnect “missing Eagles” with the movement and promote Scouting’s mission.

Lovell’s professional career was equally remarkable. A veteran of four spaceflights, he was the first Eagle Scout astronaut to reach space as a member of Gemini 7 in 1965. In a whimsical moment of history, that mission — along with Gemini 6 — became known for hosting “the first patrol meeting in space,” as every astronaut aboard had once been a Scout.

He went on to fly on Gemini 12, Apollo 8 (the first mission to orbit the Moon), and Apollo 13, the ill-fated 1970 lunar mission that tested the limits of teamwork and ingenuity. When an oxygen tank explosion crippled their spacecraft, Lovell’s calm under pressure helped guide his crew through days of dwindling resources, cold conditions, and rising carbon dioxide levels, bringing them safely home. For his leadership, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and two Navy Distinguished Flying Crosses.

Lovell’s commitment to Scouting was not limited to ceremonial honors. In the 1970s, he served on the National Council and the executive board of the Sam Houston Area Council, chaired the judging panel for Project POSTAR (giving Explorers a chance to send experiments into space), and contributed articles to Scouting magazine promoting fitness and preparedness. He believed that Eagle Scout alumni were among the organization’s best ambassadors, often urging them to inspire the next generation:

“Eagle Scouts young and old are among the very best ambassadors of the movement … an invaluable asset to bridge the gap between past and present.”

Lovell’s life embodied the Scout Oath and Law — from his boyhood in Wisconsin to his Navy service, his trailblazing missions in space, and his decades of volunteer leadership. Whether guiding astronauts through a life-or-death emergency or guiding young people toward achievement, Jim Lovell remained, in the words of Chief Scout Executive Roger Krone, “a true American who inspired generations the world over” — and a Scout forever.