Y Times YMCA of Greater Houston Employee Newsletter
Special Edition
March 2014
THE LAWS LEGACY
Association Office Renamed After Former CEO
Bev R. Laws was greeted by a crowd of YMCA staff, old friends and children to celebrate the renaming of the Association Office in his honor, now called the Bev R. Laws YMCA of Greater Houston Administration Center.
As Bev R. Laws arrived to the Association In addition to the renaming of the office, two plaques were hung near Office building on December 4, he saw young children with beaming smiles waving the entrance. One plaque summarizes pom poms as they sang “For He’s a Jolly Bev’s life, while the Good Fellow.” other highlights his Laws also saw a large crowd of current accomplishments. and former staff, board members and old friends he knew well holding up balloons and signs such as “Bev’s Our Man” and “Love You, “I could have Bev.” Everyone was there that never done it alone. I was day to celebrate Laws, as the Association Office blessed to have was renamed in his honor the support I had and is now called the Bev over the years.” R. Laws YMCA of Greater Houston Administration Bev R. Laws Center. Laws served as CEO of the YMCA of Greater Houston from 1973 to 1992. “It was determined that this was a fitting place for his name,” said Clark Baker, CEO and President of the YMCA of Greater Houston. “Bev had a head for the business and a heart for the mission. This was a way for us to say thank you.”
Clark’s Corner We are almost halfway through our Fiscal Year. We have many benchmarks which show how “on target” we are, including our NPS scores (quality in programs), finances and annual campaign. In a big win for 2014, Gordon Ranch, a 112-acre property in Fort Bend County, was purchased for the county by a group of people who will lease it to us for $1 per year. This is a great addition to our outdoor adventure experiences, and one that will serve thousands of children in years to come. This reflects a nearly $4 million investment in this community. Our Annual Support Campaign has grown to almost $7 million, which is more than any other YMCA in the country. United Way has given us once again an excellent rating as a “member agency.” Their $3.5 million allocation is the highest given to any Y in the movement. On March 6, we will dedicate the new Trotter Sports Complex, named for the family of Ed Randall, III, who have been our benefactors for many years. Be sure and drop by; it is a stellar renovation of our sports fields. Many thanks to each of you for what you do, for why you do it, and in gratitude, for those we can serve to help build a healthy community! Sincerely, Clark Baker, CEO
See LAWS on the back
LAWS REFLECTS ON CEO YEARS AT HOUSTON YMCA
Laws at his desk at the old Downtown Y.
The YMCA of Greater Houston grew to what it is today in large part because of the leadership of Bev R. Laws. Laws left a YMCA in Florida in the early 1970s to become CEO for the Houston Y during the local oil boom. He replaced Bob Maloney, who was retiring. As the city grew larger and more dynamic, so did the YMCA. According to Laws, the Houston Y was in a healthy state, but there was still work to be done. Laws began his tenure by taking19 people to Hunt, Texas for a board retreat to come up with a game plan. From then on, new things started to happen. Laws and his
board of directors developed and opened extension sites throughout the city and hired the first financial development officer. “We started developing extensions, started building programs, got an extension board organized and went from there,” Laws said. “A building would emerge out of the need for that approach. Then those extensions became branches.” Altogether, Laws opened 10 new locations in the association during his tenure, totaling 31 centers and 250 outreach program sites at the
See HOUSTON on the back
LAWS continued
Bev R. Laws Career Timeline Began his YMCA career at the Montgomery, Ala. YMCA
1953
Became CEO of YMCA of Greater Houston
1973
Founded the Refugee Resettlement Program
1963
1975 1976
1978
1979 1983
Launched Holy Week Prayer Breakfast
1985 Acquired the TMC Child Care Center
Opened YMCA Camp Cullen Began HISD Outdoor Education Program at YMCA Camp Cullen Began Active Older Adult program in Houston Chaired the National YMCA Camping Centennial
1988 1992 2000
Inducted into the YMCA of the USA Hall of Fame
Appointed General Director of Orange County YMCA in Orlando, Fla.
2014
Retired, leaving the YMCA of Greater Houston as the 4th largest association in the US with a $32.1 million budget.
Though Laws says he is grateful for the honor of the Association Office bearing his name, he remains humble. He shares the credit with his board members, volunteers and staff at the time. Together, they grew the Houston Y association from the 19th largest in operating budget in the US at Laws’ inception in1973, to the 4th largest in 1992 when he retired. “Just like there’s no ‘I’ in team, there’s no ‘I’ in we” said Laws, who is now 87 and resides in Houston with his wife, Katie. “I get credit for a lot of things the staff and volunteers did. I may have helped, but I could have never done it alone. I was blessed to have the support I had over the years.” Baker said Laws was a true leader in the Y, and a person he has admired while serving with him on several national committees and boards since the 1970s. “Bev had a foundation of faith, which uniquely qualified him to lead. He was always a leader’s leader,” Baker said. “He became a mentor to many, became the go-to guy for the Y nationally, and a legend in the movement.”
Association office named in his honor as the Bev R. Laws YMCA Administration Center
Bev Laws, center, poses with 1978 Board Chair Edgar A. Smith, left, and Financial Development Director Norris Lineweaver, right.
HOUSTON continued time. Today, there are 38 Y locations throughout the greater Houston area. Laws and the board also determined a resident camp was needed. After raising funds, YMCA Camp Cullen opened in 1975. Over the next few years, Laws launched other events and programs that are still used today, such as the Refugee Resettlement Program (International Services) and what is now the Active Older Adult program. Laws also served on several national YMCA committees throughout his career, such as chairing the National
YMCA Camping Centennial in 1985, and was inducted into the YMCA of the USA Hall of Fame in 2000. Clark Baker, current CEO and President of the YMCA of Greater Houston, says Laws was well-known for his attention to detail and magnetic personality. “He was decisive, persuasive and you never doubted where he stood on an issue,” Baker said. “He had the unique ability of commanding a room’s attention. When he entered the room, you knew he was there. He worked a crowd making everyone feel special because you knew he was special.”
Laws has also been influential to staff who worked for him. Many have become CEOs and leaders at YMCA associations in Dallas, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Indianapolis and even Jerusalem. Proud to have spent 40 years of his life working for the YMCA, he continues to be amazed at the many other accomplishments the YMCA of Greater Houston has made since his retirement. “The Y continues to grow and be a leader,” Laws said. “Our staff (continues) to be held in high esteem. The Houston Y has achieved a level of worldwide recognition as one of the strongest YMCAs in the world.”
WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE LAWS EVER GAVE YOU?
Linda Lykos Development “Remember, it is always about the kids.”
Scott Rockenstein Information Tech
Patricia Osborn Youth Development
Lori Rumfield Center Executive
Gary Nichols YMCA Historian
“To lead by example, be honest and admit your mistakes. No excuses.”
“The heart of the YMCA is in our communities.”
“No surprises!”
“So, Nichols, what have you done for me lately?”