Big Brothers of America
San Diego had become a very important city in my life. And on one of my many
visits I was, as always, staying at the U. S. Grant Hotel. I had just left my
room and was in the elevator on my way to The Grant Grill for dinner. A
gentleman, (I would soon learn the man was Frank Rhodes) noticing the
lapel pin I was wearing he asked what it signified. The pin was small and round, red
enamel and gold, and showed a figure of a man one arm around the
shoulder of a boy with his other arm outstretched, showing the boy the way. I
told him it was the emblem of the Big Brothers of America and that I was a
Big Brother. He said "What's a Big Brother"? I suggested that if he wanted
to learn more to join me in the Grill and I would explain further. Over
drinks I described the Big Brother/Little Brother relationship. I told him
that a Little Brother is a boy usually between the ages of seven or eight to
fifteen, living at home with his mother without his father. This kid
usually does not have many friends and although, sometimes bright, is not
doing well in school. A Big Brother is a guy usually between the ages of
eighteen and sixtyfive, wanting to do more than just writing a check to a
good cause. As a Big Brother he can give of himself, as a friend, to a kid
that really needs him. To do things together that both of them enjoyed
doing. I told him that I was a Big Brother with the Jewish Big Brothers in
Los Angeles where there was also The Catholic Big Brothers and the Big
Brothers of Greater Los Angeles. Both Frank and I began thinking the same
thing. Three Big Brother agencies in L.A. and not even one in San Diego.
That didn't make sense and something must be done about it. After dinner I
called my business partner, Ben Townes, well connected and influential in San
Diego. I asked him if he would introduce me to men who could help me start
a Big Brother agency in San Diego. He did, and this experience resulted in organizing the Big Brothers of San Diego which is today Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County.
