Mike Matzinger
Stephen D. Bechtel Jr. (1925–2021) was an influential business leader, philanthropist, and lifelong Eagle Scout whose vision helped shape modern engineering, civic service, and youth development in America. Born into the family behind the Bechtel Corporation, he grew up observing the construction of some of the nation’s most ambitious projects, including the Hoover Dam, which his grandfather and father helped build. These early experiences instilled in him a deep understanding of engineering, project management, and leadership.
From a young age, Bechtel was active in the Boy Scouts, joining Troop 4 in Piedmont, California. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1940, an achievement that would influence his approach to leadership, ethics, and civic responsibility throughout his life. He often credited Scouting with helping him develop the values and discipline that guided both his personal and professional decisions.
Bechtel pursued higher education with the same drive that marked his early years. He earned a degree in civil engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Stanford University. After marrying his high school sweetheart, he joined the family business as a field engineer, committed to earning his place through hard work rather than inheritance. His efforts quickly propelled him through the company ranks.
In 1960, Bechtel became president of Bechtel Corporation, and in 1973, he assumed the role of chairman, guiding the company until his retirement in 1990. Under his leadership, Bechtel expanded its global reach, completing 1,700 projects in 77 countries and employing 32,500 people. Major achievements included the construction of the Channel Tunnel, the largest nuclear power plant in the United States, and a 360-square-mile industrial city in Saudi Arabia. He was known for his rigorous work ethic, strategic foresight, and commitment to integrity—qualities he often traced back to his Scouting experiences.
Beyond the corporate world, Bechtel was deeply committed to civic engagement and philanthropy. He served on six presidential commissions under Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and George H.W. Bush. He was also the first chairman of the National Academy of Engineering from 1982 to 1986 and received the National Medal of Technology in 1991 for his contributions to engineering and innovation. His charitable foundations have awarded more than $1 billion in grants supporting education, conservation, and community development.
Bechtel’s impact on Scouting is particularly enduring. The S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation donated $50 million to acquire the 10,600-acre property in West Virginia that became the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, the permanent home of the National Scout Jamboree and a premier high adventure base. He received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in 1984 and the Silver Buffalo Award in 2005. His uncle, Kenneth Bechtel, had previously served as the national president of the Boy Scouts of America from 1956 to 1959, cementing the family’s long-standing connection to Scouting.
