MC1 (SW/AW) James Evans Coyle Inductees to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Alumni Hall of Fame: NBA great Spud Webb, Architect Timothy Holland, Advertising Executive Joe Burton, parents of Major League Baseball All-Star Pitcher Dan Haren, Orthopedic company founder Greg Nelson, nationally acclaimed veterinarian Dr. Dayna Wiedenkeller, Commandant Naval District Washington Rear Adm. Earl Gay, NFL Hall of Famer and former U. S. Congressmen Steve Largent, NFL Referee Mike Carey and Air Force Survival Training Instructor and Pararescuer Craig Fitzgerald.

Rear Adm. Earl Gay joined his fellow initiates before a crowd of more than 2,500 at the annual Boys & Girls Clubs of America convention.

According to a recent Harris Interactive survey, 57 percent of Boys & Girls Club alumni said ‘‘the Club saved my life.” A closer examination of the 2008 inductees into the BGCA’s prestigious Alumni Hall of Fame proves that the Club was indeed a positive place.

When Gay joined the Bellwood Boys Club in Atlanta at age nine, 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, Gay serves as the National Capitol Region Joint Force Headquarters Deputy Commander along with his duties as NDW commandant.

From assignments in a Navy career spanning nearly three decades ranging from instructor pilot duty to search and rescue in the Sierra Mountains, air boss on board USS Boxer (LHA 3) and commanding officer of USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3), Gay has never forgotten the positive influence of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

‘‘Finding the time to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, D.C. has never been a difficult job. Giving back is not a job,” Gay said. ‘‘It’s everyone’s responsibility to assist when and where they can. I wear the cloth of my country proudly and thank my wife for her constant support in all my years with the United States Navy and with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. We will continue on in our lives always being very grateful and truly honored to be part of such a vital and important institution as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America is in the development of our young people.”

This year’s slate of 11 inductees honored during BGCA’s 102nd Annual National Conference included a big city mayor, sports superstars, military heroes, an award-winning architect and an advertising guru. The common denominator they all share is the positive influence of a Boys & Girls Club and their respective contributions to society as adult professionals.

Gay’s fellow 2008 inductees were: Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of McCann Worldgroup, Joe Burton; NFL Super Bowl official, Mike Carey; Air Force hero and key contributor of Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, Craig Fitzgerald; MLB superstar pitcher Dan Haren; outstanding architect and founder of Holland Basham Architects, Timothy Holland; NFL Hall of Famer and former U.S. Congressman, Steve Largent; founder of two successful orthopedic companies, Greg Nelson; the Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles; NBA Slam Dunk Champion Spud Webb; and Dr. Dayna Wiedenkeller, president of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association.

BGCA also welcomed back 2005 AHOF inductee and award-winning actor Courtney B. Vance to host this year’s ceremony. ‘‘We are extremely proud of our alumni who have gone on to achieve great things,” said Roxanne Spillett, president and CEO of BGCA. ‘‘Their stories are very different, but all start out the same – with life-changing programs, caring and attentive staff, and the fun and safety of a local Boys & Girls Club.”

The Harris survey also revealed that 81 percent of alumni said Club participation helped them develop a sense of responsibility to give back to their community, and an impressive 92 percent said that helping others is still a priority for them. The 2008 alumni inductees represent a wide range of professions and have a genuine dedication to continue giving back to their communities, both professionally and personally.‘‘This year’s class of inductees represents the power and impact a Club has not only on character and development, but also on civic engagement,” continued Spillett. ‘‘The 2008 inductees, as well as the other Alumni Hall of Fame members, are living proof that Boys & Girls Clubs impact young lives every day.”

Other distinguished members of BGCA’s Alumni Hall of Fame include actor Denzel Washington, entertainer Jennifer Lopez, NBA legend Michael Jordan, WNBA standout Swin Cash, Olympic swimming champion Brooke Bennett, and retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark, former NATO supreme allied commander.