Class of 2019
2019 Georgia Hall of Fame
Dr. Hugh Sanders
Career Achievement - Board Volunteer
Boys & Girls Clubs of Baldwin County and Jones County
Dr. Hugh A. Sanders has served as an outstanding Board volunteer for the Boys & Girls Club Movement. During his 34 years of service, he has only missed 2 meetings. Dr. Sanders educational background is extensive with his final degree being a Doctor of Philosophy from College of Education of the Georgia State University, June 9, 1979. As an educator, Dr. Sanders has always taken a sincere interest in the youth within his community. Dr. Sanders is a co-founder of the Boys & Girls Club of Baldwin and Jones Counties, Inc. and thanks to 3 years of persistence, the Clubhouse was opened in 1988.
Dr. Sanders’ personal and professional growth comes with a host of Civic memberships. His leadership skills aided in the growth of the organization throughout its existence. He was very instrumental in seeking additional funding to build a new facility that more than tripled the growth in serving youth in 1995; he was very instrumental in raising additional funds to open the Jones Unit in July 1998 as well as the H.U.D. unit in the year 2000. Dr. Sanders has fulfilled various roles on the Board ranging from President to Treasurer. Dr. Sanders aided in raising millions of dollars for the organization over the course of time.
Dr. Sanders is a man of astounding humility and dedication and warrants him the highest of praise and honor. He is truly dedicated to serving those who need us most.
John Lastinger
Career Achievement - Board Member
Boys & Girls Clubs of Valdosta
Although John never likes making a big deal about his football-playing days, we Valdostans love to brag that he is our hometown hero. He learned to play football, as many did, at the Boys & Girls Club of Valdosta. He went on to play for the acclaimed Coach Nick Hyder with the Valdosta Wildcats and honored our city even more as the starting quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs under legendary Coach Vince Dooley. He led the Bulldogs to be #1 in the SEC in 1982. During his career as a quarterback, he also led the Dawgs in the ‘83 Sugar Bowl and scored the winning touchdown in the ‘84 Cotton Bowl.
In 1994, John became the third generation of Lastingers to serve the Club. His grandfather, John W. Lastinger, was a founding board member of the Valdosta Boys Club, followed by his father Johnny B. Lastinger who served as a devout coach and volunteer for decades. John A. and his father were instrumental in raising funds for the multimillion-dollar capital campaign which provided the facility that serves the youth of Valdosta today.
Jerome Yarbrough
Career Achievement -
Board Member
Boys & Girls Clubs of Lanier (formerly Gainesville Hall County Boys Club)
A native of Gainesville, Yarbrough grew up attending the Gainesville-Hall County Boys Club (now Boys & Girls Clubs of Lanier). Fire Chief Yarbrough first aspired to become a firefighter at the age of six when the Club went on a field trip to the local fire station. He credits the Club with instilling in him good character and a sense of responsibility.
Jerome graduated from Gainesville High School before beginning his public service career as an army medic. His path led him to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office where he eventually became a marshal. Yarbrough then made his move to the Gainesville Fire Department to realize his dream, where he has now served for over 30 years.
In addition to his stellar service in the public service sector, Jerome has also been an active member of the Board of Directors at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lanier since 1999. His ingenuity and passion to inspire the futures of local youth has resonated throughout the community. “Jerome is a man of action, disinterested in accolades, and focused solely on results,” says fellow long-time board member Abb Hayes. “He leads by example, not words, and steadily inspires Club members, board members, and staff.”
Melvin D. Williams
Career Achievement - Board Volunteer
Boys & Girls Clubs of Hall County - Gainesville, GA
Melvin went on to excel in sports in high school and later graduated from Savannah State University with an MBA. Melvin’s vocational journey has led him through the ranks of AGL Resources, where he now, president of Nicor Gas, the largest natural gas distribution company in Illinois. As president of Nicor Gas, Williams is responsible for ensuring that clean, safe, reliable and affordable natural gas reaches more than 2.2 million homes and businesses in 656 northern Illinois communities. Concurrent to his role at Nicor Gas, Williams also serves as senior vice president of Southern Company Gas, the parent company of Nicor Gas and a national leader in the energy sector. He is a champion for leadership development and diversity and inclusion-related initiatives.
Having experienced the benefits of strong African American community role models, Melvin has remained dedicated and has served on the boards of the United Way of Metro Atlanta, the United Way of Metro Chicago, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta and is a lifetime member of the Frank Callen Boys & Girls Club of Savannah, continuing the legacy of his predecessors. He has secured hundreds of thousands of dollars for both the BGC Metro Atlanta and the Frank Callen BGC and continues to do so from afar.
Walter B. Simmons
Career Achievement - Active Member
Boys & Girls Clubs of America- Frank Callen
Walter B. Simmons is the oldest acting member of the Frank Callen Boys & Girls Club. He grew up down the street from the Club and became a member when he was five years old. His close proximity made for an exciting entrance. To get to the Club, Walter would climb on the top of row houses and follow the roof line down until he was able to jump off and land inside. Walter was a unique member because he had the pleasure of knowing and being influenced by the Club's founder, Frank Callen. He specifically remembers Mr. Callen kicking him out of the Club on several occasions, because he did not want to go home yet when the day had come to an end.
Walter remembers the Club as a safe haven during his youth at a time when bootlegging, crime, prostitution, and gambling were rampant in the streets of Savannah. When Walter moved back to Savannah after joining the Navy and finishing college, he started volunteering at the Club. Recognizing that there were not any city organized sports for the African-American community in the early 1950’s, Walter asked Mrs. Callen, the director at the time, if she would sponsor a varsity basketball team. Part of the deal was that Walter would work at no cost. Until this day, he is known for the many state and regional championship teams he coached in baseball and basketball, as well as being the program director, interim executive director and board member for the Frank Callen BGC. All this as he doubled as an educator in the Savannah public school system. Simmons also was the first black principal to integrate 37th Street Elementary School, a previously all-white school. Later in his career, the district named Simmons the director of middle schools. Walter has been an active member of the Frank Callen Boys & Girls Club Alumni and Friends Association since its inception 30 years ago and has been extremely instrumental in securing tens of thousands of dollars for the FCBGC.
Congratulations to our Youth of the Year 2023-2024 Candidates!
