Hugh O'Brian:

Hugh O’Brian was born April 19, 1925 in Rochester, New York. At 17, he became the youngest drill instructor in Marine Corps history, but found his true passion was acting. O’Brian gained national fame and notoriety with his portrayal of frontier law-man Wyatt Earp in “The Life and Times of Wyatt Earp.” This top-rated television series ran from 1955-1962 and made O’Brian an overnight success. After the series ended, O’Brian went on to other acting projects in film, television, and Broadway while devoting the rest of his time to HOBY.

The honors and awards he has received from his work with HOBY are numerous. In 1983, the National Society of Fund Raising Executives honored him with their premier award for overall philanthropic excellence as a volunteer, fundraiser, and philanthropist. This is the only time one individual has received the award in all three categories. In 1989, he received the 60th Annual American Education Award presented by the American Association of School Administrators. O’Brian joins Norman Rockwell, Lyndon Johnson, Helen Keller, Walt Disney, and Bob Hope as a recipient of this most significant award.

Mr. O’Brian died on September 5, 2016 at the age of 91.