2006
Everett Christmas

As a child in Montclair, N. J., Everett Christmas lived next door to the YMCA in Montclair, N.J. He began his professional YMCA career there, as Physical Director. He later worked in Wilmington, DE and as Executive Director at the Second Street Youth Center in Plainfield, N.J. Christmas returned to YMCA work in the late 1960s, in leadership positions in Newark and East Orange, N.J. For sixteen years, Christmas worked with YMCA of the USA as a field consultant and trainer. He was also the Director of the Black Achievers Program, which grew from seven to 125 local programs under his leadership. As a core member of the national Staff Development faculty, Christmas trained thousands of YMCA workers in YMCA history, the Y’s Christian heritage and diversity. He retired in 1996, and continued to serve as a YMCA consultant, historian and motivational speaker. He was honored with APD’s Knebel Award for Distinguished Leadership and was named to the National YMCA Black Achievers Hall of Fame. He also received a Humanitarian Award from the African American Culture Center of Raleigh, N.C.

2006
Julius Jones

Julius Jones started his career in 1963 as a Youth Program Director at the Jacksonville (FL) YMCA. Four years later, he was appointed Branch Executive Director in the Nashville (TN) Association. In 1972, he moved to the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. as Director of Operations. In 1979, he began twenty-two years of service as President and Chief Executive Officer of the YMCA of Pittsburgh. In that role, he was responsible for the operation of 17 local branches and outreach centers and three camps, with an annual budget of over $22,000,000. With a passion for staff development, Jones was a mentor and teacher for generations of up-and-coming YMCA directors. As a result of his international work, many long-term partnerships were created between U.S. and African YMCAs. He served on numerous boards and committees, both within and outside the YMCA, including the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Private Industry Council and Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers. In retirement, Jones continued to provide leadership with YMCA of the USA, NAFYR and the YMCA Retirement Fund, including relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

2006
Adrian B. Moody

Adrian Moody worked for the YMCA since graduating from college. Over a 40-plus year career, Moody served as CEO of four YMCAs: Moultrie, GA; Bristol, TN; Middle Tennessee and Greater Miami, FL. He was also Senior Vice President of the Houston, Texas association and South Field Executive for the YMCA of the USA. After retiring in 1999, Moody returned to Nashville to become a volunteer for the Y, where he championed the association’s international relationships. His international work is extensive: he helped to found YMCAs in Russia and to re-establish YMCA relations in South Africa. He has led the Nashville Y’s engagement with both the Jerusalem International YMCA and the East Jerusalem YMCA. A man of extraordinary personal warmth and deep faith, Moody maintained a passion for changing lives through YMCA programs, including connecting young people with opportunities to serve and build friendships throughout the world.

2006
Richard C. Morse

Richard Morse was a nephew to Samuel Morse, inventor of the telegraph. He was ordained a Presbyterian minister, but never entered the active ministry. Instead he chose to become the religious editor of The New York Observer, a weekly newspaper founded by his father. It was through a report of a YMCA convention he wrote for that paper, that Morse sought out work in the YMCA. He first joined the YMCA in 1869 as editor and publisher of the new Association Monthly magazine. This began a forty-seven year career which culminated in his appointment as General Secretary of the YMCA’s International Committee. Morse was one of the original members of the World’s Committee from 1878 to 1888, and was active in the New York City Association. Morse’s YMCA work took him across the Atlantic Ocean fifty times, including relief work in France during World War I. Among the several books written by Dr. Morse are My Life with Young Men, A History of the North American Young Men’s Christian Associations and Robert R. McBurney, A Memorial.

2006
William V. Phillips

Bill Phillips decided to become a YMCA Director while attending a teen Leadership Development Conference at YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly. He began his career as Boys’ Work Secretary at his hometown Y in Pensacola, FL. Beginning in 1962 he served in several leadership roles at the Central Florida YMCA in Orlando, and in 1968, Phillips returned to Pensacola as General Director to lead the racial integration of that YMCA. Phillips returned to the Central Florida YMCA during the 1970s as Associate General Director and then CEO. He was the President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Seattle from 1982 to 1992, during which time two capital campaigns were completed and the budget tripled. He was appointed President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Houston (TX) in 1992, a position he held until his retirement in 2002. In Houston, the Y grew from $27 million to nearly $70 million. Four new facilities were constructed, fifteen were renovated and the funds were secured for three additional branches. Phillips served on the Board of Trust- ees of the YMCA Retirement and the National Board of the YMCA of the USA. He often said he was most proud of the fact that over twenty-five people who served on his staff went on to become CEOs, including five in the Urban Group.