Spud Webb

Dallas, Texas
At 5’7”, Anthony “Spud” Webb may be one of the shortest players in NBA history, but his legacy is large. Born in Dallas in 1963, Spud attended the Turnkey Boys Club and began playing basketball at an early age. Although the point guard was repeatedly overlooked by coaches due to his small size, he ultimately played 12 seasons in the NBA, seven of them with the Atlanta Hawks, impressing fans with his spectacular ball-handling and uncanny jumping ability. In 1986, Spud won the Slam Dunk Contest at the NBA All-Star Game. He retired from basketball in 1997. Today, Spud shares his inspiring story and supports youth through his own foundation.

Dr. Dayna Wiedenkeller

Locust Valley, New York
When Dayna Wiedenkeller was growing up in Locust Valley, the nearby Grenville Baker Boys Club didn’t allow girls. That didn’t stop Dayna, who put on a boy’s cap and snuck in to play ping pong, shoot pool, and have fun. Today, Dr. Wiedenkeller is a nationally acclaimed veterinarian and president of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association – and she doesn’t regret violating Club policy one bit. “It felt right to break the rules, because what I received in the end made it worth it,” she says. “It was a saving grace for me.”

Joe Burton

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The youngest of six children, advertising executive Joe Burton grew up in an inner city neighborhood of Pittsburgh. When he was 9, he discovered the Shadyside Boys Club, which provided his “second home” and bridged major gaps in his schooling. Through the Club, Joe traveled, played sports and gained the courage to succeed. The first in his family to attend college, he later completed graduate studies at Harvard Business School. Today, Joe is executive vice president and chief operating officer of McCann Worldgroup in San Francisco – and manages the agency’s pro bono advertising campaign for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Mike Carey

San Diego, California
NFL referee Mike Carey is respected throughout the league for his professionalism, preparation and sense of fair play – values made real at the William J. Oakes Boys Club, which he joined at the age of 8. Beginning his officiating career with Pop Warner games in 1972, Mike was hired by the NFL in 1990. In 2008, he was selected to officiate Super Bowl XLII, becoming the first African-American Super Bowl referee. In addition to his NFL career, Mike co-owns Seirus Innovation, a snow sports accessories company he founded with his wife, Wendy, in 1979.

Craig Fitzgerald

Nashua, New Hampshire
Craig Fitzgerald joined the Boys Club of Nashua in 1985, taking part in sports and leadership programs. He enlisted in the Air Force after high school in 1995, serving first as a survival training instructor, then a pararescuer. In 2003, he was leading a rescue reconnaissance mission in Afghanistan when insurgents attacked. Severely wounded, Craig underwent 11 surgeries and was medically retired in 2004. Wanting to give back to other injured veterans, he and a friend hiked the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail in just four months in 2006, raising more than $150,000 on behalf of severely disabled veterans and their families.

Rear Adm. Earl Gay

Atlanta, Georgia
When Earl Gay joined the Bellwood Boys Club in Atlanta at age 9, he discovered new activities and people from different backgrounds – while gaining the confidence to tackle new experiences with ease. A 1980 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Rear Admiral Gay now serves as commandant of Naval District Washington and National Capitol Region Joint Force Headquarters deputy commander. It’s a demanding post, but he still finds time to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, D.C. “Giving back is not a job,” he says. “It’s everyone’s responsibility to assist when and where you can.”

Dan Haren

Monterey Bay, California
Many alumni thought of their Club as a “home away from home,” but in Dan Haren’s case, the comparison was literal. His father was executive director of the Monterey Park Boys Club, which Dan joined at age 6. A natural athlete, Dan played indoor hockey, soccer, basketball and flag football at the Club, learning valuable lessons about teamwork. He went on to play baseball for Pepperdine University and was drafted in 2001 by the St. Louis Cardinals, making his Major League Baseball debut in 2003. Dan later played for the Oakland Athletics and was the American League’s starting pitcher in the 2007 All-Star Game. He joined the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008.

Timothy Holland

Omaha, Nebraska
Renowned architect Tim Holland found a blueprint for success at the South Omaha Boys Club, which he joined at age 9. Club staff encouraged Tim to pursue higher education, even arranging a college interview for the aspiring architect. A board member gave him a scholarship and his first job after Tim received his master’s degree from Harvard University in 1985. Four years later, Tim started his own firm, Holland Basham Architects. He serves as chairman of the board for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands, which includes the Omaha area, and his firm has built or renovated several area Clubhouses.

Steve Largent

Albany, Georgia
NFL Hall of Famer Steve Largent attended the Boys Club of Albany, finding fun activities and a safe, wholesome environment. An All- American at the University of Tulsa, Steve was drafted by the NFL in 1976. During his 14-season, 200-game career as a Seattle Seahawks wide receiver, he held six major career pass-receiving records. He also earned a reputation as one of football’s greatest humanitarians; he was named NFL Man of the Year in 1988. After his NFL retirement in 1989, Steve served seven years as a U.S. representative for Oklahoma. Since 2003, he has served as president and CEO of CTIA – The Wireless Association.

Greg Nelson

Carlsbad, California
Greg Nelson was 9 when he joined the Boys Club of Carlsbad. Abandoned by his father, his mother worked two jobs and needed safe supervision for her two sons. Greg got his first job doing maintenance at the Club; he eventually became its executive director. While Greg went on to found two successful orthopedic companies, he never forgot the place where he found friendship, fun and mentorship. He spearheaded a campaign to build a new Clubhouse, saying, “If I support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad for the next 100 years, I still will not be able to give back what it has given me.”

The Hon. Antonio Villaraigosa

Los Angeles, California
When Antonio Villaraigosa attended the Variety Boys Club in Los Angeles, no one could have imagined he’d one day become the city’s 41st mayor. The oldest of four children raised by a single mother, Antonio attended UCLA and the People’s College of Law. In 1994, he was elected to the California State Assembly, becoming speaker four years later. After serving on the Los Angeles City Council, he was elected mayor in 2005 – becoming the city’s first Latino mayor in more than a century. Skilled at coalition-building, Mayor Villaraigosa emphasizes finding solutions to the major issues facing Los Angeles including education, transportation, public safety and economic development.