08/21/2026
Before he became “The Duke,” John Wayne was a Scout. Born Marion Morrison, Wayne grew from a Southern California Scout into one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars. He later made Newport Beach his home, giving this Scouting Legend a special connection to Orange County.
The Scout Law stayed with Wayne throughout his life. During one of his final public appearances—a dinner supporting a Scout camp named in his honor—he shared his own reflections on each of its 12 points. He called “trustworthy” the badge of honesty and encouraged Scouts to keep it at the top of their list.
Today, Scouts can explore interests connected to Wayne’s remarkable career through merit badges like Moviemaking, Horsemanship and Public Speaking—but his lasting message went beyond the screen: learn the Scout Law, understand it and live it.
This week, we remember John Wayne as a Scouting Legend.
Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images. Image courtesy of Getty Images. Scouting America Orange County Council does not own this photograph; all rights belong to the respective copyright holder.
