Stephen L. Bowen, DVM, a longtime Scouting America volunteer and member of the Montana Council, has received the 2026 Hillcourt Silver Medal for his distinguished contributions to Scouting history. Bowen created the concept, format, and requirements for Scouting America’s Scouting Heritage Merit Badge, introducing nearly 100,000 Scouts to the history of Scouting in America and the people who helped shape the movement.
Established in 2024 by The “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt Foundation, the Hillcourt Silver Medal recognizes outstanding contributions to the history of Scouting and Guiding at the national and international levels. The award was created in anticipation of the 125th anniversary of the birth of legendary Scout leader and historian William “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt in 2025.
Bowen shares the 2026 honor with Elizabeth Elwell-Cook of New South Wales, Australia, an independent scholar, researcher, educator, and conservator specializing in Girl Guide uniforms and memorabilia. She is also the founder of the International Girl Guiding Archivists Collective.
A Lasting Contribution to Scouting History
Bowen envisioned a merit badge that would help Scouts explore the history of the Boy Scouts of America, now Scouting America. He developed the badge requirements and outlined the topics Scouts would study, then championed the proposal through the national Advancement Committee for five years. His persistence helped secure approval in time for the organization’s centennial celebration in 2010.
For the past 16 years, Bowen has continued to edit the merit badge pamphlet through multiple editions, helping ensure Scouts have the resources to explore Scouting’s origins, traditions, and legacy. What began as his vision has become an educational opportunity for nearly 100,000 Scouts, connecting a new generation with the history of the organization and the people who built it.
His commitment to preserving Scouting history extends beyond the merit badge. Bowen established a Boy Scout display at the Imperial Valley Pioneers Museum, helping preserve and share the story of more than a century of Scouting in the local community.
A longtime contributor to Scouting at the national and local levels, Bowen has served on several Scouting America national committees, including the Advancement Committee, the National Eagle Scout Association Committee, and the National Program Content Committee. He has also held numerous positions with the San Diego-Imperial Council before becoming a member of the Montana Council.
Honoring a Legacy of Scouting History
The medal bearing Hillcourt’s name recognizes the importance of preserving and sharing Scouting’s history. Born in Denmark in 1900, Hillcourt became one of the country’s earliest Scouts at age 10. After moving to the United States in 1926, he devoted his life to Scouting as a professional writer and volunteer leader.
Hillcourt authored several editions of the Boy Scout Handbook, Handbook for Scoutmasters, and Scout Fieldbook, along with hundreds of articles for Boys’ Life magazine, now Scout Life. Writing under the name “Green Bar Bill,” he became one of the movement’s most influential voices. He also wrote the first scholarly biography of Scouting’s founder, Robert Baden-Powell, with assistance from Lady Baden-Powell. After retiring in 1965, Hillcourt spent nearly three decades traveling the world to teach advanced Scouting techniques to leaders, earning the title “Scoutmaster to the World.”
Today, The “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt Foundation continues his legacy by supporting Scouting programs, historical research, and the preservation of Scouting artifacts and records. The Foundation’s medals recognize individuals who help ensure Scouting’s history remains accessible and meaningful to future generations.
Through the Scouting Heritage Merit Badge and his work preserving local Scouting history, Bowen has made a lasting contribution to that mission. His recognition with the 2026 Hillcourt Silver Medal celebrates not only his dedication to Scouting’s past, but also his work helping today’s Scouts understand the history and traditions of the movement they carry forward.
Learn more about the Hillcourt Silver and Bronze Medals, including nomination information, at hillcourt.org/medal-nominations.
