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Paul Thomas, now 80 years old, still carries his membership card, issued to him September 30, 1936, in his wallet. As the sixth member of the Alexandria Boys Club, Thomas can still recall the names of his Staff Leaders, the activities he was involved in and the lessons learned from his experience at the Boys Club.
"I spent every waking moment of my days there. There was nothing else to do," says Thomas. He was 16 when the Club opened and remembers his experience as nothing but positive. It was a family atmosphere where "top notch" staff leaders taught them discipline as well as sports. "It was my life at the time. If I wasnıt off fishing somewhere I was in the Boys Club," adds Mr. Thomas.
Donald Thomas, Paul Thomas' younger brother, was the 12th member of the Alexandria Boys Club. At the age of 10 Donald became a full participant in Club activities. He played on all of the sports teams and competed in all of the games that were offered. "I would have been hanging out in a gang or something if it werenıt for the Boys Club," Donald said. "I lived there from the time the doors opened to the time the doors closed," he added.
The Boys Club gave him a choice between right and wrong, taught him about character at a crucial time in a young manıs life, helped him interact with his peers and how to lose gracefully, he expressed. He went on to become a star athlete in high school, which he credits to the Boys Club. Today, whenever Mr. Thomas drives into to town he drives by the Club and thinks of all the good memories he has from his experience.
We caught up with the Thomas' when they and nine other "Original" Boys Club Members of the Alexandria-Olympic Branch were welcomed home with other former members, parents and board members at a "Come On Home" reception in June. It was a festive occasion in which the kids were the staff and the adults were the Club Members. Children signed in the adults, issued honorary membership cards and ran game tournaments for the adults. The Twirl Factory, a group of young girls who compete in baton twirling, performed and The Azalea Charities presented the Club with a $50,000 gift for their Capital Campaign.
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