Boy Scouts of America Names New President

The Boy Scouts of America has selected John Gottschalk, chairman of the Omaha World-Herald Company, as president at the organization's National Annual Meeting in San Diego on May 23.

During his two-year term as the BSA's top volunteer, Gottschalk will direct the National Executive Board, which guides the national youth-service organization. One of his top priorities will be to assist Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca in moving the organization toward the BSA's 100th Anniversary Celebration in 2010.

In addition to his role as president of the BSA, Gottschalk serves as chairman of the Omaha World-Herald Company, a media conglomerate of daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, and electronic publications. He has served on the board of directors since 1980 and joined the company full-time in 1989.

"I am honored to serve as national president during such a pivotal point in the Boy Scouts of America's history as we move toward our 100th anniversary in 2010," Gottschalk said. "We have one of the most spectacular opportunities that we're ever going to have in this 100th year. For so long, too long, others have been defining us. I think the greatest opportunity we have immediately is to define ourselves -- not that we don't know who we are, but define ourselves to America."

Gottschalk, an executive vice president on the BSA National Executive Board, is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope and Silver Buffalo awards. He also is a member of the 1910 Society and Founders Circle.

"The Boy Scouts of America is enthusiastic about John's new role as national president of our organization," said Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive. "By drawing from his sound business experience and tenacity, he will help lead us into the next generation of Scouting."

Gottschalk follows in the footsteps of past presidents such as Ed Whitacre, former chairman and CEO of AT&T; Milton Ward, CEO of Ward Resources Inc.; Roy S. Roberts, Managing Director, Reliant Equity Investors; John Cushman, chairman of Cushman & Wakefield Inc.; and outgoing president William F. "Rick" Cronk, former president of Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream.

Gottschalk is a director of Cabela's, Inc.; Election Systems & Software, Inc.; and McCarthy Group, Inc. His community involvement extends to the boards of directors of Creighton University, the Henry Doorly Zoo, the Omaha Symphony, and the Joslyn Art Museum. Currently, Gottschalk serves as chairman of the USO World Board of Governors and the Omaha Performing Arts Society.

About the Boy Scouts of America

Serving more than 4.6 million youth between the ages of 7 and 20, with more than 300 councils throughout the United States and its territories, the BSA is the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. The Scouting movement is composed of 1.2 million volunteers, whose dedication of time and resources has enabled the BSA to remain the nation's leading youth-service organization. For more information on the BSA, please visit http://www.scouting.org.