Casper Police Chief Tom Pagel took a matter of seconds to summarize the reason nearly 1,000 people turned out for a 7 a.m. breakfast.

Shunning business attire for his summer navy blue patrol uniform, Pagel said, "Every day, we see young people who have made bad decisions. The criminal justice system is not the solution for our youth - the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming is."

The 11th annual Awards and Recognition Breakfast at the Casper Events Center raised $338,334 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming, which serves youth 6 to 18 through after-school and summer programs at seven sites throughout Casper, Glenrock and Douglas.

That total is up about $35,000 from last year's announced total of $303,000 from the same event.

The club celebrates its 40th anniversary in November and chief professional officer Ashley Bright estimates more than 38,000 youth have been served in the decades since new resident Wilma English enlisted the help of community members to establish a place for her two sons to go after school.

Those attending the breakfast met three symbols of what the club does now in Natrona sophomore Brittany Herbold, Kelly Walsh sophomore Siaha Follum and Natrona senior Ty Wilson.

The three were finalists for this year's Youth of the Year honors at the club level, and each gave a speech describing their lives and how the club has made a difference in them.

Wilson, who hopes to study fire science and become a firefighter so he can save lives, admitted that he was an angry kid with a temper when he first began attending the club.

"The club has taught me self control and how to find the positive in any situation," he said.

Marilyn Ladd of the club's board of directors announced Wilson as the winner of the award, which comes with a $1,000 educational grant and the honor to compete for the State Youth of the Year title in February.

Many of those gathered on Tuesday knew the award honoree by his voice and his contributions to the community long before they met him in person.

Bob Price came to Casper 41 years ago and has served the community with his generous spirit ever since.

As the vice president and Casper market manager of Gap West Broadcasting, which owns six radio stations in Casper, he says his business and his philanthropic work in the community go hand-in-hand.

"If you're going to live and work in the community, certainly you need to take the major role in making sure things are OK here," he said recently. "The bottom line is, it's good business."

Among those on hand to celebrate Price was former employee Pete Williams, now the NBC justice correspondent.

Williams, an NCHS graduate, worked for Price in both KTWO television and radio after graduating from college.

With his mother looking on, Williams was late-night comedian funny before becoming emotional when talking about Price.

"I have been given many breaks in my career, and the biggest was when I began my work in broadcasting with him as my boss," Williams said. "I have been blessed to work for four remarkable people in my life - Cliff Hansen, Dick Cheney, Tim Russert - and Bob Price."

Price spent his brief time at the podium thanking people, including his mentor since the age of 18, Jack Rosenthal, and Elaine; his mom, Juanita, who was in attendance; his wife, Jana and sons, Joshua and Tyler.

Absent from the gathering was former award recipient and BGCCW supporter, Ambassador Tom Stroock. About him, Price quoted the poet Robert Burns, "the purpose of life, is a life of purpose."

And speaking directly to his sons, he asked them to look around the room, remember "a man's wealth is measured by his friends," and ponder it later.

Reach community news editor Sally Ann Shurmur at (307) 266-0520 or sallyann.shurmur@trib.com. Read Sal's blog at tribtown.trib.com/Sal/blog

Boys & Girls Club breakfast

By Dan Cepeda

Star-Tribune videographer