Our History
HOBY was founded by Hugh O’Brian in 1958 as a nonprofit organization with the same mission we work toward today–to inspire a global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation.
In the summer of 2006, while chaperoning his students, Warrington Headteacher John Sharples met Hugh O’Brian at HOBY’s World Leadership Congress in Washington DC. John had seen the impact of the HOBY experience in previous years and wanted to create a similar programme in the UK so that more young people could benefit. With Hugh’s approval, HOBY UK was founded. Every year since 2007 a leadership seminar has been held at a UK university.
In order to grow and widen its impact, in 2015 HOBY UK became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Since then, in addition to the residential seminar, a programme of one-day Community Leadership Workshops (‘CLeWs’) has been introduced, in partnership with schools and OnSide Youth Zones.
HOBY UK programmes have now reached over 1200 young people. All have been facilitated by volunteers, most of whom have experienced a HOBY programme themselves as a delegate. The volunteer team now numbers over 50.
ABOUT HUGH O’BRIAN
“I do NOT believe we are all born equal — CREATED equal in the eyes of God, YES — but physical and emotional differences, parental guidance, varying environments, being in the right place at the right time, all play a role in enhancing or limiting an individual’s development. But I DO believe every [person] if given the opportunity and encouragement to recognize [their] own potential, regardless of background, has the Freedom To Choose in our world. Will an individual be a taker or a giver in life? Will that person be satisfied merely to exist, or seek a meaningful purpose? Will [that person] dare to dream the impossible dream?”
~ Hugh O’Brian | April 19, 1925 ~ September 5, 2016
Hugh O’Brian was born Hugh Charles Krampe on April 19, 1925, in Rochester, New York, to United States Marine Corps officer Hugh John Krampe and his wife, Edith. Hugh’s interests and talents were always myriad–from being a multisport athlete in football, basketball, wrestling, and track, to pursuing a career in law, to becoming the youngest drill instructor in Marine Corps history–Hugh was one of a kind.
Hugh O’Brian’s acting career began inadvertently in 1947 while he was attending a play. The leading actor fell ill and O’Brian agreed to take his place on stage. Inspired by great reviews, he decided to pursue a career on stage, which led to his first contract with Universal Studios. Hugh’s breakthrough came in 1955 when he was chosen to portray lawman Wyatt Earp in The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. O’Brian’s charisma and talent brought the lawman to life and sustained the show for seven consecutive years as one of the nation’s most-watched television programs.
At the peak of his acting career, Mr. O’Brian journeyed to Lambaréné, Gabon to spend nine days with Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner. Dr. Schweitzer instilled in Hugh a simple belief: “The most important thing in education is to teach young people to think for themselves.” Before Hugh left Africa, Dr. Schweitzer grabbed his hand and asked him about his experience: “What are you going to do with all of this?”
O’Brian returned to the United States resolved to put Dr. Schweitzer’s words into action. In 1958, he founded Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY). The format was simple: bring a group of high school sophomores with leadership potential together with a group of distinguished leaders in business, education, and government and let the two interact and grow together in a university environment. These young leaders got a realistic look at what it takes to positively impact a community, better enabling them “to think for themselves.”
