Beatrice Conrad came to Davenport in 1946 from Washington, D.C. when her husband, C.P. Conrad, was named chairman of the board of Iowa-Illinois Gas & Electric Co. Beatrice was born in Escondido, CA and married Mr. Conrad in 1920. He passed away in 1956.

Mrs. Conrad was an active member of the National Board of Girl Scouts of America and helped establish the local River Bend Council. Beatrice also spent many years as a Girl Scout troop leader, volunteer, trainer, and commissioner. From 1925 until 1940, she served the Girls Scouts of Sao Paulo, Brazil as leader, camp counselor, camp director, district commissioner, and division commissioner. Before returning to America in 1942, Beatrice held the position of badge secretary for the Girl Scouts of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

On April 22, 1964, Beatrice Conrad was honored by the River Bend Council, now the Mississippi Valley Girl Scout Council, when the dining lodge at Camp Conestoga was named the Bea Conrad Lodge. Fittingly, 30 years later, the Mississippi Valley Girl Scout Council was the first organization fund to be established at the Community Foundation, where Mrs. Conrad was the very first donor.

Beatrice Conrad became aware of the Community Foundation while she was serving on a committee for the United Community Services, now the United Way of the Quad Cities. Shortly after Mrs. Conrad’s initial gift, $20,000 from the local United Community Services was contributed to the Community Foundation.

At the time of her death, Beatrice was still serving on the local Girl Scout’s board of directors and its finance committee. Upon hearing of her death, the President of the National Girl Scouts wrote, “We honor the memory of one who brought to Girl Scouting profound love of the movement, quiet wisdom, and tireless service. She gave of herself without thought of self, even when illness was hers to bear.”