2002
Eugene E. Barnett

Eugene Barnett served as a Secretary for the University of North Carolina Student YMCA while attending graduate school from 1908-10. For the next twenty-seven years, he worked in various YMCA positions in China, where the YMCA flourished until the Communist Revolution. He served as General Secretary in Shanghai, and in 1925, Barnett became the Senior Secretary for the International Committee of the YMCA in China. He served concur- rently as Associate General Secretary of the China National Committee and was also a member of the National Christian Council. Barnett returned to the United States in 1937 to become the Executive Secretary of the International Board of the YMCA. He helped to eliminate the significant debt that had developed and managed the World Services program. In 1941 he was named the General Secretary of the National Council of YMCAs where he served until his retirement in 1953. During WWII, Barnett gave leadership to the YMCA’s efforts on the home and fighting fronts. The national organization provided aid to soldiers, prisoners of war and local YMCAs.

2002
Ted W. Hawkins

After being discharged from the Army, Ted Hawkins attended Augustana College, graduating in 1949 with majors in Business, Psychology and Education. His first YMCA position was as General Secretary of the Worthington (MN) YMCA. He later worked at YMCAs in Iowa and Alaska, before moving to the St. Louis (MO) YMCA as Vice President. During his work in St. Louis, he became known for the leadership tools he developed to help staff manage their operations as well as the systems he created for membership services. As a member of both the National MRC Directors and Urban Group Operations Executives, he was able to share his ideas with YMCAs all over the country. For fifteen years he managed the international program at the St. Louis YMCA, creating partnerships with Quito, Ecuador and the Colombian Federation. He received the Herb Evans International Award from the Mid-American Region. After his retirement, he served as President of the North American Fellowship of YMCA retirees for three years.

2002
Robert B. Hoffman

Bob Hoffman received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Springfield College. He began his YMCA career in Pennsylvania in 1958, serving in youth work and camping at the Norristown and York Associations. He developed extensive four-front club work (Y Indian Guides, Gra-Y, Junior and Senior Hi-Y), initiated development of a new YMCA camp and developed a street workers program to create outreach for hard to reach teens. He served as Executive Director at the Hazelton (PA) and Germantown (PA) YMCAs before his appointment as Vice President at the YMCA of Greater Hartford (CT). In addition to his operational responsibilities, Hoffman organized and directed the annual YMCA Financial Development School for thirteen years. He maintained an active involvement with APD, serving at regional and national levels. He received Springfield College’s highest alumni award, the Tarbell Medallion, in 2001.

2003
David Halbe Brown

Halbe Brown began his career at the Youngstown (OH) YMCA, first as Aquatic Director and later as the Camp Director and Youth Director. In 1966 he became the Executive Director of the Frost Valley YMCA, a position he held until his retirement thirty-five years later. Under Brown’s leadership, Frost Valley grew from a 2,000 acre camp with an annual budget of $115,000 to a 6,000 acre, $6 million year-round facility. The year-round staff of six served 1,400 children in 1966. In 2001, the 100 member staff team served over 31,000 guests. Brown was dedicated to providing high quality camping experiences for people of all abilities, and created the first pediatric dialysis center in a resident camp setting. Project MAC was created to enable developmentally disabled children to attend camp. He was committed to fostering cross-cultural cooperation and developed a multi-faceted partnership with the YMCA in Tokyo.

2003
Prescott K. Johnson

Pres Johnson enrolled for graduate studies at Springfield College after returning from military service in the U.S. and Korea. He worked part-time at the Westfield (MA) YMCA while in school, and joined the staff as Physical Director after graduation. In 1960, Johnson received the John R. Mott Fellowship that allowed him to pursue his doctorate at Ohio State University. He joined the national staff as a Fraternal Secretary in 1962, serving in Uruguay for a decade as a physical education specialist and faculty member at the YMCA Training College, the Instituto Tecnico. During this time he traveled extensively, providing consulting and training for YMCA staff in thirteen Central and South American countries. From 1974 to 1990, Johnson served at YMCA of the USA as well as the Milwaukee, San Mateo (CA) and New York City Associations in health and physical education consulting positions. He also played an active role in the organization of the World Fellowship of YMCA Retirees and was the first president in 1997.

2003
John W. Kessler

Born in 1919, John Kessler earned degrees from Southeast Missouri State and George Williams College. He joined the YMCA Movement in 1946, serving as Director of the Kansas City (MO) YMCA’s Lighton Club. He subsequently served at YMCAs in Boston, Fitchburg and on the New England Region staff before moving to the Oak Park (IL) YMCA. While serving as President of the Minneapolis (MN) YMCA, Kessler assembled a Board of Directors consisting of community members who were capable of attracting major gifts, an innovation in development strategy. By the time he left in 1983, after sixteen years in leadership, the Y had raised a total of $42 million and constructed six new buildings. In 1984, he accepted the difficult task of providing leadership to George Williams College, at a time when its closure was imminent. He oversaw the college’s transition to become part of Aurora University. He served four terms as chairman of the Urban Group and was involved in several national and international committees. Kessler received an honorary doctorate from Springfield College in 1985.