This article requires special mention of Bud Lassiter, who at 89 years of age is one of the last surviving members of the Desipers, the YMCA Leaders Club. He provided the background information and the inspiration for this piece:

What started out as an activity club for young boys at the Oregon Street YMCA in Downtown El Paso, turned out to be the breeding ground for champions, heroes, and community leaders from the greatest generation.

In 1931, seven 9- and 10-year-old boys were selected from the Pee-Wee gym class at the YMCA to be a part of the new YMCA Leaders Club. The boys were chosen because YMCA officials saw that those boys displayed particularly strong leadership skills among their peers. Each successive year, more boys were recruited to be a part of the Leaders Club. Eventually there were four leaders clubs around the city, among them, the Desipers and the Comrades.

In a 1946 interview with the El Paso Times, Vernus Carrey -- the general secretary of the El Paso YMCA -- said, "This group of boys was not an ordinary one. Each one of them showed a special ability. Perhaps it illustrates the old adage about birds of a feather flocking together, for it is a fact that they did not confine their companionship to the gym of the Y. They were all pals, in the true sense of the word."

They volunteered their time at the YMCA, mentoring younger kids in YMCA programs. Some even went off to the YMCA camp at Skyline Ranch outside of Cloudcroft to work as counselors.

They didn't get paid up there, but they were fed well.

The boys grew up through junior Leaders and in high school they stayed true to their designation as leaders in their communities at school. The boys lettered in track, basketball, tennis, football and even orchestra. Meanwhile, back at the YMCA, their YMCA Leaders club excelled in citywide competitions in gymnastics, swimming, and gym events, taking the Fraternal Council's All Around Award in 1941.

After high school, some went into the military, others left El Paso for college, but six stayed in town to go to the Texas College of Mines and they played basketball. Bud Lassiter, Doug Ramsey, Greg Ramsey, Lee Floyd, Donald Lance and Mike Devlin were all part of the 1941 Border Conference championship team for the Miners. There were all also alumni of the Desipers Leaders Club.

End of part 1. Next week, World War II and after. ...

Kevin Pearson is the president and CEO of the YMCA of El Paso.

The YMCA is celebrating its 125th anniversary in El Paso this year. This is the 13th in a weekly series of stories highlighting the agency's history.

Next installment: World War II and after . . .