Badger Boys State adopted a program based upon the experience of the Illinois Boys State which was sponsored by the Illinois American Legion and had been in operation since 1935. Four hundred eighty-four high school juniors attended the first session of Badger Boys State at St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin, June 16–23, 1939. The project proved very successful and was unanimously authorized to proceed as a state program by the Wisconsin American Legion Convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The individuals responsible for founding the Badger Boys State program officially on April 8, 1939 were: Due to the limited capacity of St. John's
George Edmund Badger A Liberty ship, the "SS George E. Badger", also was named in his honor. Badger was a cousin of naval officers Oscar C. Badger, Charles J. Badger and Oscar C. Badger II. George Edmund Badger George Edmund Badger (April 17, 1795May 11, 1866) was a Whig U.S. senator from the state of North Carolina. Badger was born on April 17, 1795 in New Bern, North Carolina. Following a partial college education at Yale College, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1814. Badger practiced law in North Carolina, was active in state politics, and served as a