Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives 

Missouri  –  Eagle Scout

Missouri introduced the first-generation Eagle Scout specialty plate in 2005, according to one report.  The second-generation plate replaced it in about 2008.  The latter is shown at left; the major difference between the two is the state name font, which corresponds to the state name font used on regular passenger plates.  I expect there will be a third-generation plate out soon. 

Missouri special interest plates aren't available with sequential plate numbers; they're only issued with vanity plate numbers.  Some motorists who don't really have anything to say on a vanity plate request a vanity number that "looks" sequential, such as this plate number EG 1. 

On the second-gen plate, which this plate is, the year sticker is sideways because it was designed to be affixed vertically in the center of standard plates, but is supposed to be placed horizontally in the lower right corner of vanity plates.  I gather that all Missouri specialty plates now have July expiration months. 

North Carolina  –  Eagle Scout

I'm fortunate to live in North Carolina, one of only a handful of states that issue Eagle Scout plates.  As an Eagle Scout, I can order these plates from the NCDMV for my own vehicles.  In fact, all of the plates shown at left were once assigned to my vehicles. 

The evolution of the North Carolina Eagle Scout plate is evident from these three examples. Initially, the Eagle Scout medal graphic was high on the plate, crowding the month sticker, and the serial suffix letters "E/S" were relatively small. Also, for unknown reasons, these plates were made with the wide serial number dies normally only used on non-passenger plates and vanity plates with six or fewer characters. 

The background sheeting was eventually changed to lower the medal graphic and enlarge the suffix letters, and the plates began to be stamped with the same narrow serial number dies as other specialty plates.  Then, along with all other specialty plates, vanity plates, amateur radio plates, and various other low-volume plate types, the Eagle Scout plates were made flat with screened serial numbers for about three years between 2008 and 2011.  Since then, North Caorlina has resumed producing embossed plates. 

Beginning in July 2015, North Carolina began offering a second standard plate design, in addition to the long running First in Flight design.  The second design shows a small graphic of a quill pen and has the legend First in Freedom across the top of the plate.  All plate types that are made using the Flight design are also now available on the Freedom design.  They just allocated a yet-unused block of numbers for these. 

In July 2019, North Carolina introduced yet a third standard plate design, in addition to the two others.  The third design features the text In God We Trust, which is the official motto of the United States, across the top, over a graphic image of the U.S. flag in the background.  It also has the text 'To Be Rather Than to Seem' bounded by single quotes, which is the English translation of the Latin official motto of the state of North Carolina, just above the state name at the bottom.  Again, all plate types that are made using the Flight design are also now available on this design as well, and they allocated another yet-unused block of numbers. 

Ohio  –  Eagle Scouts

Ohio Eagle Scout plates have been issued on five different base plates thus far.  All of them have the plural legend Eagle Scouts at the bottom of the plate.  Shown at left are the first four of these base plates: 

• The first-generation plate, with the gold color at the bottom, introduced in about 1998
• The second-generation Ohio Bicentennial plate, introduced in 2001
• The third-generation plate with the script Ohio, issued beginning in 2004
• The fourth-generation plate Beautiful Ohio plate, introduced in 2009.

The third-gen plate is a front plate and so doesn't have a month/year expiration sticker.  The stickers in the lower left corners of these plates identify the motorists' counties:  "24" is Fayette County, "25" is Franklin County, "48" is Lucas County, and "78" is Trumbull County. 

Wisconsin  –  Scouting Alumni

Wisconsin introduced this Scouting Alumni plates in about 2017.  The plate sheeting has a big, white blank space on the left side.  It's issued, however, with one of two available decals applied to the plate.  One is the Eagle Scout medal as shown on this plate; the other is a generic Boy Scouts emblem, suitable for people who were in Scouts but didn't earn the rank of Eagle.  This is a front plate, sans expiration stickers. 

Philippines  –  Golden Jubilee of Scouting

This 1973 Philippine plate celebrates the Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary) of both the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in that country.  In many countries outside the U.S., the Boy Scout and Girl Scout or Girl Guide programs are run by a single organization.  I'm not clear whether this was a legitimate vehicle registration plate or just a numbered booster plate – I know that the Philippines issues lots of various special event license plates, so I'll assume the former unless I learn otherwise. 

Pennsylvania  –  Valley Forge Council Diamond Jubilee

I'm not sure whether this was a street-legal special event license plate, or just a numbered souvenir plate.  In any case, it's clear that it was made in the Pennsylvania license plate manufacturing facility – the dies used to stamp the state name are unmistakable.  At least a few hundred of these plates were made, so it's cool that I managed to get one with a one-digit plate number.  The plate would seem to be for a weekend event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America, founded in February 1910, or of the Valley Forge Council, founded in 1911, or both. 

Illinois  –  Ulysses S. Grant Boy Scout Pilgrimage

Illinois makes a multitude of special event license plates for all kinds of events.  These plates are valid for use for the 60 days up to and including the day of the event, or the last day of a multi-day event.  Illinois has issued a number of Boy Scout-related event plates, including a few additional years of Grant Boy Scout Pilgrimage plates besides the 1991 version shown. 

Illinois  –  50th Anniversary, Troop 957, Chicago

This is another Illinois special event license plate.  This plate gives you an idea of how obscure some of these events can be; this one recognizes the 50th anniversary of a specific Boy Scout troop, Troop 957 in Chicago. 

New Mexico  –  100 Years of Scouting

The Boy Scouts of America was founded on February 8, 1910.  As far as I know, New Mexico is the only state that acknowledged their 100th anniversary on a license plate.  New Mexico and the BSA have a special relationship, because Cimmaron, New Mexico is the location of Philmont Scout Ranch, Scouting's premier High Adventure destination.