The Boy Scouts of America’s Grand Canyon Council (GCC), an independent nonprofit organization chartered by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) in Arizona, recently awarded well-known businessman and local resident Dave Alexander the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award (DESA).
The award is presented to Eagle Scouts who have built a distinguished career while establishing a strong record of volunteer service in their communities. The DESA is the National Eagle Scout Association’s highest honor an Eagle Scout can achieve.
Nominees must have earned the Eagle Scout rank through the BSA at least 25 years prior to be considered for the award. Alexander achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in 1959 and credits many of the successes in his personal and professional life to the lessons Scouting taught him.
Alexander is the founder and managing member of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the United States. The company has been recognized as one of the best places to work in Arizona and is an acknowledged industry leader in innovation, workplace safety, and community support.
He shares that has always felt a strong obligation to give back to the community in both time and wealth, and as a former member of the Grand Canyon Council Executive Committee and current national board member of the BSA, he has been an outstanding leader in guiding the future of the organization. “I want future generations of Scouts to have the same opportunities I have gained through Scouting,” he says. “I’m passionate about bringing Scouting to underserved communities and continuing the BSA mission to help today’s youth become tomorrow’s leaders.”
In November 2021, Alexander matched the totality of funds raised by GCC during their Friends of Scouting Campaign. The campaign funds help provide character development, citizenship training, and leadership skills to Arizona youth. Alexander’s challenge grant matched helped GCC raise more than $311,000 on the National Day of Giving – the most every raised by Scouting in one day in Arizona. These funds help GCC support and grow Scouting throughout Arizona daily.
As an avid triathlon enthusiast and participant, he is also actively working to bring triathlons to BSA local councils, BSA high-adventure bases, and Scouting throughout the world. He has developed BSA triathlon events at the local, national and international level and is the primary sponsor of the Arizona State University Triathlon Team. With his inspiration and patronage, ASU has won four national team championships, an individual national championship, a national Team Scholar All American designation, and four national coaches of the year awards in the past five years.
Alexander is also a member of the WP Society, World Scout Foundation Regal Circle, Second Century Society, and is a James E. West Diamond Level Fellow.
