By Ann Murray

The lost boys are Peter Pan’s companions in Neverland. In J.M. Barrie’s play, the boys, opting out of adult life, are lost forever. Determined that the YMCA Paul M. Grist Boys of the Year would have a better fate, an all-out search was begun to find past winners. A reception is planned in their honor prior to the Boy of the Year awards banquet on May 5.

Since 1949, each year the coveted trophy has been awarded to the most outstanding high school male senior in the areas of Christian leadership, scholastic, athletic achievement and extracurricular involvement. The tradition of greatness is reason enough to look for 65 men who influenced Selma as young people, but there could be other benefits such as mentoring current nominees, a united effort as role models and showing support to Selma and the YMCA.

Finding no information other than a list of names on a plaque at the Y, the pursuit of these men would prove to be an interesting challenge.

Little did I know the hunt would be so exhilarating.

Inspiration came by way of a brief encounter one morning at the Y.

I noticed a man linger as he passed the Boy of the Year award plaque.

Asking him if he knew about the award, he replied that he had won the honor in 1999.

Brian Gosa (‘99), a pharmacist for the Veterans Administration, has recently returned home to Selma. He showed genuine interest in joining other past winners.

When I spoke with other Boys of the Year, a resounding “yes” came from Mark Peterson (’87), Rick Schober (‘94) and Jay Gilmer (’09).

By quizzing Charles Pollack, a YMCA regular, I found that the first award recipient Allen Collins (’49), son Leika Collins of pre-school fame and most of the others from the early fifties were no longer living.

Milam Turner, Jr. (’52) of course, is an exception. On down the list was Charles’ son, Charlie (’76), an ER physician in Radnor, Pa.

The same conversation brought me hints of the whereabouts of award winners from other eras.  Brian Williamson (’88), Cecil and Peggy’s son lives in Golden, Co., and the Charlie Sims’ brother, Kirby (’62) lives in Roswell, Ga.

Finding locals was not difficult. I found Mel Gilmer, Jr. (‘74), Alston Ivey (2014) and Ellis Talton (2006) home only for a short stint. Easy enough.

Going from phone book to Facebook, from Linked In to whitepages.com, we found many including Charlie Morris’ (’63) attorney from Fairhope, who called back with his info and Jason Bearden’s (’92), his stepson.

Glenda Deese reported that Jerome (2005) was in the Navy. Noticing that Bill Porter was connected to Lawrence Wall (’81), he explained that Lawrence, Headmaster at Charlotte Latin School is Karen’s brother.

Bill was a virtual stockpile of information on lost boys as was Kincey Green. Both helped me find winners surrounding the years they were in school. Martha Jackson pointed me to her brother Tom Coon (’59) and Lynn and Joe Williams gave me Richard’s (’57) address and informed me that yes, he was very much alive.

Facebook was the key to the younger winners. Finding Rusty Henry (‘95) Lance Brown (’96), Logan Casey (’97) Bret Holliman (2000), Tim Purdie (2008) and Landon Nichols (2010) was a breeze.

The most interesting story came from Jerry Harris,whose brother Marvin was the winner in 1964.

In speaking with Jerry he told me he was actually the winner. Jerry wrote me to say, “The following year, my younger brother Marvin returned the trophy to the YMCA, as I was away at college. Somehow, Marvin’s name subsequently appeared on the trophy instead of mine. We have been aware of this for some time, and Marvin and I have both been amused by the mix-up.”

Jerry Harris could have been lost forever as a Boy of the Year winner!

In today’s paper 14 nominees — two from each high school are highlighted. We are very proud of their accomplishments.

Please join us along with the past award winners for the banquet on May 5th at the Carl Morgan Convention Center at 6:30 p.m.