Hugh O'Brian

Today one of my heroes died. Hugh O'Brian was a man with a vision to make the world a better place. I was blessed enough to walk in his path when I was in high school. Hugh O'Brian started H.O.B.Y. (Hugh O'Brian Youth Foundation) gathering youth across the world uniting them in peace, enthusiasm and community all with the belief that we are all here to make the world a better place. One high school sophomore was chosen from any participating high school to meet at the State HOBY convention. I was chosen that year. There, we gathered for three days learning from panels of leaders in the community, as well becoming a united tribe of teenagers willing to take on the world. Between leadership seminars, songs sung, late nights, hugs, tears, and friendship - lives were changed. The HOBY ambassadors were born.

From the State Convention a male and female were then chosen to attend the World Leadership Congress (WLC). I wasn't chosen from the State convention, but I did get to attend WLC. Hugh O'Brian personally invited me. My brother had died that same year I attended my state convention and after hearing word how much my brother loved HOBY (he was also a HOBY ambassador 5 years prior), Hugh O'Brian took it upon himself to personally call and invite me to WLC because he knew that is what would make the world a better place - to love someone in tragedy, even when they didn't "deserve it" (aka, I wasn't a candidate from my state) to reach out to a youth in need, to be empathetic, to be humble, to reach out and to personally include me in the community of the next generation of innovators, visionaries and entrepreneurs. Hugh O'Brian personally saved my 17 year old ass when I went through the death of my brother. He practiced what he preached - he took care of the youth and that was his legacy.

It was when I was at WLC that I saw the world living Hugh's vision - peace, harmony, community and service. It was the first time I heard the word "empathy" It was the first time I heard the words "burning desire" It was the first time I heard the word "community" The first time I heard the word "entrepreneur" It was the first time I heard the words "let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me" It was the first time I heard the music to Man of LaMancha and what the lyrics meant.

The entire world was gathered and represented at the WLC and guess what - it was PEACE. Hugh O'Brian showed me that World Peace exists, it thrives and its within us all, its within our youth.

Hugh’s gathered hundreds of thousands youths a year, year after year, teaching them how to think for themselves, how to act in service leaving behind a world full of ambassadors of HOBY who all stand for peace, service and community. Is it any wonder this man is my hero? His impact on the world is millions strong, united in peace. WLC has been my inspiration for how I see the world and also living in it. In my deepest gratitude to this man, to his vision, to the ambassadors of HOBY. To my family all around the world. My life is richer, deeper, desirable because of the HOBY family and because of Hugh O'Brian. To you, we humbly thank you. For taking a risk on the youth, for being willing to march on for a Heavenly cause.

So in honor of my hero, I also stand for the youth in my generation. Here is to the YOUTH, that the most powerful thing we can teach them is to THINK FOR THEMSELVES! (Dr. Albert Schweitzer)

Please watch this short video of Hugh and his life’s work.