|
At the 97th Annual National
Conference in Orlando, seven distinguished former Boys & Girls
Club members were inducted into Boys & Girls Clubs of
America’s
Alumni Hall of Fame. From hoops to Hollywood, their lives
and careers give us all reason to be proud – all found
inspiration and direction early on at their local Club.
Harry Lee Anstead
Jacksonville, Florida
"You
never know when that spark will occur in a young
person's life." |
Florida Supreme Court Chief
Justice Harry Lee Anstead grew up in Jacksonville’s Brentwood Housing Project,
not venturing outside his small community until receiving
a Boys & Girls Club scholarship to summer camp.
That experience showed him that there is no limit to
what people can do.
“I saw an entirely different
world after that gift was given to me,” Anstead
said of the scholarship.
He went on to receive bachelor and juris doctor degrees
from the University of Florida and a master of law
and letters degree from the University of Virginia.
After 13 years as a lawyer, Anstead was elected to
Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal in 1976,
serving there until his appointment to the Florida
Supreme Court in 1994. He became chief justice in 2002. |
James Barker
Kingsport, Tennessee
"I am humbled by this recognition and will do everything I can to support this organization." |
An alumnus of the Kingsport
Boys & Girls Club,
Clemson University’s president graduated from
Clemson in 1970 with a degree in architecture. The
successful architect returned to his alma mater in
1986 to serve first as dean of the College of Architecture,
then of the new College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities.
In 1999, he became the university’s 14th president.
In this capacity, Barker has worked with Boys & Girls
Clubs of America to establish the Strom Thurmond Boys & Girls
Club Leadership Institute at Clemson, linking two institutions
that have made a positive impact on his life.
“The adult volunteers at
the Club gave of themselves,” said
Barker. “Thank you does not adequately describe
what I feel.”
|
Brooke Bennett
Tampa, Florida
"I want to thank the Boys & Girls Club for giving me my first place to swim." |
Three-time Olympic gold
medallist swimmer Brooke Bennett first visited the
Jim Walter Interbay Boys & Girls
Club with her grandfather, James Lane.
“When I was 5 years old,
the Club was the only place that would accept me,” said
Bennett.
She was immediately drawn to
the Club pool and was soon the fastest kid in the water.
When Brooke was 9, she
began work with renowned coach Peter Banks, competing
in the 1994 World Championships just five years later.
At 16, Bennett earned a spot on the 1996 Olympic team,
bringing home the gold in the 800-meter freestyle.
She returned to the Olympics in 2000, earning gold
medals in both the 400- and 800-meter freestyle events. |
Swin Cash
McKeesport, Pennsylvania
"Club staff taught
me about teamwork." |
WNBA forward Swin Cash joined the McKeesport Boys & Girls Club at
age 7, taking part in Club activities – especially athletics – until
high school.
“One of the biggest lessons
the Club taught me was commitment,” said
Cash.
It was that lesson that propelled her to success
at the University of Connecticut, where she helped
the Huskies win two national championships.
In 2002 she was the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, named
most outstanding player of the NCAA Final Four. Less than a month later,
the Detroit Shock made her the second overall choice in the WNBA draft,
and Cash has since led the team in points and rebounds. |
|
|
