1997
John E. Danielson

As a child, John Danielson attended Y camp and was a member of the Gra-Y and Hi-Y Clubs. After graduating from Springfield College, he was ap- pointed Boys’ Work Secretary at the Newton (MA) YMCA. Danielson served in multiple capacities in the Cleveland Association: Branch Executive, Secretary for Program and Membership and Secretary for Administration and Personnel. In 1970, he was appointed President of the Greater Boston YMCA, where he was a strong advocate for the YMCA’s involvement in juvenile justice programs. He also served as president of the Employees Alliance, a YMCA insurance program, for six years. Danielson joined the YMCA national staff as the Deputy Executive Director in 1981. His responsibilities included field service delivery, support for the Management Resource Centers and the National Committee on Membership Standards.

1997
Laurence L. Doggett

Laurence Doggett’s first involvement with the YMCA was with the Student YMCA at Oberlin College. He served one year with the State YMCA of Ohio, leaving to pursue a doctorial degree at the University of Leipzig. His thesis at Leipzig was the history of the YMCA, subsequently published as The History of the Young Men’s Christian Association. Doggett was appointed Secretary of the State YMCA of Ohio upon his return to the U.S. In 1896, he became President of the International YMCA Training School (Springfield College), where he served for forty years. Under Doggett’s leadership, the school became known for its liberal religious teachings and for training leaders both inside and outside the YMCA. The “Humanics” philosophy was applied to describe the education of the whole person. He ran four capital campaigns to establish and build the present-day campus and to create an endowment. In addition to his work at Springfield, Doggett also served as “Principal” of the YMCA Summer Institutes at the Silver Bay (NY) Association, attracting up to 600 Y Secretaries for summer training.

1997
Samuel A. Edgar

Samuel Edgar began his YMCA career as the Physical Director and Adult Program Secretary at the Winona (MN) YMCA in 1954. Just two years later, he was promoted to General Secretary. He served on the North Central Area Field Staff in the early 1960s, and was appointed General Secretary in Des Moines (IO) in 1966. For fourteen years, beginning in 1974, he was President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater St. Louis. Under his leadership, the Association experienced major growth, increasing its budget from $2 million to $18 million. Six new branches were developed as a result of $33 mil- lion of capital development. Edgar chaired the North American Urban Group of YMCAs and the YMCA Employees Alliance. He served on a number of national and international YMCA boards and committees. He also served on the YMCA National Executive Director Search Committee and the YMCA Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

1997
Paul M. Grist

As a young physical director at the Selma (AL) YMCA , Paul Grist was a strong force in the development of the Blue Ridge Leaders School. Fifteen years later, in 1934, he was promoted to General Secretary in Selma, and remained there until his retirement in 1964. During WWII he served simultaneously as the Director of the YMCA and the USO/YMCA Club in Selma. In Selma, he established Camp McGee and Camp Grist. He also acted as Dean of the YMCA Blue Ridge Physical Leaders School. He was a long-time member of the Rotary Club, serving as President and as a member of several local and international committees. He received an honorary Doctor of Humanities from the University of Alabama. The Valley Creek State Park in Selma was re- named the Paul M.Grist State Park in his honor.

1997
John A. Ledlie

John Ledlie began his forty-four year career as a nineteen year old Assistant Secretary for Boys’ Work at the Bronx Union Branch (NY) YMCA. He later moved to the Patterson (NJ) YMCA and in 1924 became the Boys’ Work Secretary at the Jersey City Y. Five years later, he became Director of the New Jersey State YMCA’s Camp Wawayanda. For four years, he served as Executive for Boys’ Work of the Central Atlantic Area. In 1944, he was appointed Youth and Camping Secretary for the National Council, where he served until his retirement in 1963. Ledlie developed national camping standards that were adopted by other national organizations. He helped build the Y Indian Guide Program for boys and their fathers from a few hundred to 12,000 “tribes” and a membership of 175,000. He was a prolific writer, with over two dozen publications that included: So You Want To Go To College, Gearing Into Life, Adventures in Christian Living, Managing the YMCA Camp, Camping Skills for Trail Living and Better Camping.

1997
Roy Sorenson

Roy Sorenson began his life-long association with the YMCA as a twelve year old in Milwaukee. He worked part time for the Madison YMCA while attend- ing the University of Wisconsin, and joined the Milwaukee YMCA staff in 1923 as the assistant Boys’ Work Secretary. In 1927, he joined the National Council of YMCAs, first on the Boys’ Work staff and later with the National Program Services Department. For ten years, Sorenson served the National Council in Chicago where he helped introduce nonfacility-centered programs and community club programs into the YMCA. In 1946, he became the Managing Director of the San Francisco YMCA. Under his leadership, four new branches were developed and an innovative youth work program was initiated. Sorensen was instrumental in the development of the San Francisco Master Plan for Youth, the Social Welfare Council, and the Bay Area United Fund. Sorenson authored Designing Education in Values, The Art of Board Membership and How to Be a Board or Committee Member.