popwarner.com - 2005 Award Recipients

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"Our family has supported youth and education for as long as I can remember. It has been a passion for our family and our focus has always been in that direction. By offering this program, it allows deserving youth an oppo rt unity to subsidize their higher education. These kids are given computers and financial resources to ease their burden. It's not only about youth and academics, but it's about leadership. It's just a way we can help these kids develop into future leaders for our community, and we're happy to do it. "

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About Dean Spanos:

Dean Spanos has two goals: build the Chargers into a perennial NFL powerhouse and solidify the team's future in San Diego.

Spanos believes that having the best front office gives a team the best chance for success. His confidence in the future comes from having an experienced and trusted football man in General Manager A.J. Smith, a proven head coach with a winning resume in the National Football League in Marty Schottenheimer, and one of league's top salary cap experts in V.P. of Football Operations Ed McGuire. Dean and his father, Alex, continue to provide the front office with the leadership, direction and financial backing necessary to build the Chargers into a perennial playoff contender.

SAN DIEGO'S TEAM

Spanos' commitment to San Diego and the team is clear. He has worked with members of the Fans, Taxpayers and Business Coalition in an effort to solidify the team's future in San Diego, committing millions of dollars to develop a plan to give San Diegans a modern football-only stadium and secure a home for their football team.

Spanos' passion and leadership is unmistakable at Chargers Park and throughout the community. The reason for this heartfelt bond is simple: Dean has proudly called San Diego home since the day he moved his family to La Jolla in 1984.

"We've been here for 20 years," said Spanos. "Susie and I have raised our kids here. This is our home."

DUAL PRESIDENCIES

Few NFL owners or businessmen of any kind are as involved in every aspect of their company's inner workings as Spanos. He oversees the business and football operations of the Chargers, a leadership role he has held since taking over as President-Chief Executive Officer in 1994. He also plays a prominent role in league affairs and serves on the NFL's Business Ventures Committee.

After his father purchased majority interest in the team on Aug. 1, 1984, Dean became the man behind the scenes for the Chargers while serving as president of all Spanos corporate entities and vice chairman of the AGS Financial Corporation. For 31 years, Dean has been working alongside his father in apartment construction and land development in the family-owned business. He shares the responsibility with his brother, Michael, for all construction operations nationwide and all financial matters relating to the acquisition and development of projects for the Spanos organization.

After Dean took the reins in early 1994, the Chargers didn't wait long to enjoy the benefits of his guidance. In January 1995, the Chargers were playing in Super Bowl XXIX in Miami, Florida.

CONTINUES TRADITION OF GIVING:

In addition to running the football organization, he has continued the long-standing tradition of community support by the Spanos family and the Chargers.

In March 2000, Dean announced the creation of Chargers Champions, a community initiative benefiting students, schools and educators that are "making the difference" for San Diego's future. In each of the past five offseasons at the annual Chargers Champions All-Star Gala, 22 outstanding high school juniors have been awarded $7,000 scholarships and laptop computers. Since 2001, Chargers Champions has awarded grants to schools as well as grants and laptops to San Diego's most deserving teachers and coaches. This commitment of $400,000 annually in educational scholarships and grants - nearing $2 million over the past five years - is unmatched in San Diego.

Local students received a giant boost when the Spanos family and Chargers Community Foundation supplied the initial funding to organize the first-ever freshman football and girls volleyball programs in the 16 San Diego City high schools in 2000. This major public-private partnership provided more than 1,000 extracurricular opportunities annually for students.

San Diego County schools have also benefited financially from the Chargers' generosity. In 1998, the Chargers created Touchdowns for Youth to reward students who have outstanding attendance. With more than $3 million in support from the Chargers for the Touchdowns for Youth program, schools in San Diego County realized an increase in funding from the state (based on "average daily attendance") of nearly $10 million.

Another huge economic benefit to the community came in 1998 when Dean and Alex Spanos secured Super Bowl XXXVII for the City of San Diego. It marked the second time in five years that the City of San Diego enjoyed the huge financial windfall from hosting a Super Bowl. Super Bowl XXXVII in January 2003 brought more than $300 million to the San Diego economy.

Dean is a major contributor throughout the San Diego business and civic communities. He is an emeritus member of the board of directors for the San Diego International Sports Council, a group of San Diego business executives committed to promote and enhance economic development through sports of all kinds in San Diego. Dean also served on the boards of the San Diego Economic Development Corporation, the Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce and the San Diego Inner-City Games. He is a major contributor and supporter of Children's Hospital, the American Cancer Society, the Huntington's Disease Society of America and the United Way.

COMMUNITY HONORS

Community honors come frequently to Dean and Susie Spanos. A few of the more prestigious and recent awards include the Harold Leventhal Community Service Award, the top award of the Huntington's Disease Society of America, which was presented to Dean and Susie last year by the national board for their generosity.

Dean recently earned the unique distinction of being a second-generation recipient of the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor, accepting the award 16 years after his father was similarly honored. The award recognizes distinguished Americans for their commitment to freedom, diversity and opportunity.

Dean was inducted into the DeMolay International Alumni Hall of Fame in 2002. DeMolay International is an organization dedicated to preparing young men to lead successful and productive lives.

In 2001, the San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum presented Dean and Susie with their Community Champions Award, the Hall's most prestigious award.

MORE THAN A BUSINESS MAN

Dean's busy career in business and the National Football League hasn't hampered his status as one of the nation's most successful amateur golfers. An avid golfer since his college years, he has been on the winning team in five Pro-Am tournaments, including back-to-back wins in 1990 at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and the AT&T National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach with partner Hubert Green. He successfully defended his title at the Hope Classic in 1991. Spanos and Green also won the Bing Crosby Pro-Am at Pebble Beach in 1985, where Dean was awarded the "Most Valuable Amateur" trophy for supplying the most help to his professional partner. His first win came in the 1985 Senior Players Reunion Pro-Am in Dallas, teaming with Billy Casper.

Dean Alexander Spanos was born May 26, 1950, in Stockton, California. He earned varsity letters in football and golf at Lincoln High School in Stockton. Dean received the Lincoln High Hall of Fame Award, which honors alumni whose contributions and accomplishments are representative of the school. He was recognized for his achievements in the areas of business and athletics. Dean continued his golfing career at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. He graduated in 1972 with a degree in business administration. He maintains close ties with his alma mater, having served as a regent at the University.

Dean and Susie reside in La Jolla, California. Susie received one of San Diego's most prestigious awards in 2001 when she was honored as a "Woman of Dedication" by the Salvation Army. She also has been named the Woman of the Year by the San Diego Leukemia Society for her philanthropic work in the community. Susie is active in and on the board of many charitable organizations in San Diego, including the Campanile Foundation at San Diego State University; the San Diego Women's Foundation, and is an advisory member of Las Patronas. She has been a driving force in supporting the San Diego Blood Bank and its umbilical cord blood program, helping the Chargers' annual blood drive become one of the most successful in the nation.

Spanos' oldest son, Alexander Gus (July 2, 1978), is a graduate of the business school at the University of Southern California. A.G. is the Chargers' director of marketing programs & business development. Prior to joining the Chargers fulltime, he worked in the NFL Europe's office in London and at the NFL office in New York. As a freshman, he attended Tufts University in Medford, Mass., where he was a member of the football team. In high school he received six varsity letters as a two-sport athlete (basketball and football) at La Jolla Country Day School. Son, John Dean (Nov. 7, 1979), graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in business in 2002. He worked as an intern in the NFL's Management Council office in New York during the 2002 season and joined the Chargers' scouting department in 2003 as a pro and college scout. He is in his seventh year with the Chargers' organization, mostly in the player personnel department, and he spent two years working at the league office in New York. While at The Bishop's School in La Jolla, he earned nine varsity letters in a variety of sports, including football, basketball and golf, and played on three championship teams.