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U.S. COMMEMORATIVES BY ALFRED E. CRAWFORD, PH.D. ANA 1168106 & JERRY L. DAVIS, PH.D.

BOYS TOWN Centennial Coins From its humble beginnings in America’s heartland, Father Flanagan’s home for boys embraces its history and 100th anniversary.

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n the early 2010 s, Boys Town began to visor asked Dr. Alfred E. “Rusty” Crawford, the prepare for the 2017 centennial of its founding aforementioned numismatic volunteer, for his and revisited the idea of developing commem- ideas concerning medals that might be struck orative items. A 4-cent Father Edward Flana- to celebrate the 100th anniversary, which, at gan stamp had been issued by the U.S. Postal that time, was five years away. Crawford’s goodService in 1986. And as the 100th anniversary ap- natured response was “Why not go for the gold? proached, the concept of producing a centennial Let’s see if we can try for national commemorative medal or coin was raised. coins.” The idea simmered for As part of this process, ema few months until the Stamp ployees and volunteers from Center manager requested the Leon Meyers Stamp Centhat Crawford meet with a ter of Boys Town were conBoys Town vice president and sulted about their knowledge a division head to discuss the of commemorative products. possibilities. Crawford agreed, The Stamp Center is staffed and the Boys Town Centennial by a part-time manager and Commemorative Coin Project several volunteers, including was born. philatelic experts and one numismatist. Boys Town receives The Village donations of all types, among Boys Town, Nebraska, was them stamps, coins, paper founded as Father Flanagan’s money, postcards, first-day Boys’ Home in December covers and other ephemera, 1917. Flanagan, a 31-year-old which are then evaluated and Catholic priest, envisioned cataloged. Many of these conand created a safe place for tributions are sold to collecwayward, orphaned and othtors from across the United erwise at-risk and needy States, and the proceeds are youth. Originally located in returned to the home’s operA STATUE OF Father Flanagan graces the City of Omaha, the Boys’ the front lawn of his former residence ating budget. Home was moved in 1921 to In 2012 the gift-shop super- on the Boys Town campus. “Overlook Farm,” which is

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The number of residents steadily grew and, just prior to the Great Depression, the facility housed 900 individuals.

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young men and women of all races and religions. In recent years, as residential care has come under increasing pressure nationally, and alternative methods to assist families and youth in their homes and local communities have been developed, its annual enrollment has been 350-400. In response to cultural changes, Boys Town programs have evolved to recognize that a healthy functioning family is vital to young people’s development into productive members of society. Consequently, Boys Town has and continues to offer programs that support and nurture such

THE ORIGINAL BOYS’ HOME, founded in 1917, operated out of this structure in Omaha, Nebraska. the site of its present location on Dodge Street, west of central Omaha. The property offered sufficient land to accommodate agricultural and other training programs appropriate to the culture of the day. Five young boys were the first to live at the original home. After the move to Overlook Farm, the number of residents steadily grew and, just prior to the Great Depression, the facility housed 900 individuals, but thereafter the population dropped dramatically. In fact, the Village of Boys Town, as it came to be known, almost had to close its doors as food sources and funds dried up during the Depression. Loans procured by Father Flanagan to buy property and build structures came dangerously close to defaulting.

Widening Influence Since the Depression, the main Boys Town Village has averaged a population of about 500

Boys Town’s Core Principles Father Edward Flanagan established his Boys’ Home on just a few basic tenets that remain central to Boys Town’s operations today: • Teach children and families life-changing skills. • Help children and families build healthy relationships. • Empower children and families to make good decisions on their own. • Care for children in a family-style environment. • Support children and families in religious practices and values.

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THE ORIGINAL FIVE residents of the Boys’ Home posed for an impromptu “class photo.” They were the first of what would become thousands of young people who benefited from Father Flanagan’s generosity and vision. growth. The transition from dormitory to familystyle living arrangements is a good example. Opening its doors to girls is another. In addition, the Boys Town National Research Hospital, which specializes in treating children with hearing impairment and speech disorders, was established to assist and enhance the lives of many needy young people. Father Flanagan’s vision is no longer limited to Omaha. From its humble beginnings on West Dodge Road, Boys Town has grown to include programs and facilities in more than a dozen states and regions throughout the country: California, North Florida, Central Florida, South Florida, Louisiana, Iowa, Nebraska, New England, New York, Nevada, Texas and Washington, D.C. In 2014 Boys Town provided direct care to over 35,000 children and families. Additionally, it has impacted the lives of more than 2 million children and families through its integrated “Continuum of Care.” MARCH 2017

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Internal changes and competing priorities at Boys Town kept the project simmering on the back burner for more than a year, but deadlines were rapidly approaching.

“HE AIN’T HEAVY, FATHER, HE’S MY BROTHER.” So replied Reuben Granger when asked if it was too difficult to carry the younger, polio-stricken Harold Loomis. This 1920s photograph provided inspiration for an original statue, which was carved out of limestone. The phrase became the official Boys Town motto.

Project Revived Internal changes and competing priorities at Boys Town kept The Centennial Commemorative Coin Project simmering on the back burner for more than a year, but deadlines were rapidly approaching. The project finally was revived by Boys Town Vice President for National Advocacy and Public Policy Dr. Jerry Davis. A master of negotiating the program’s approval process, Davis took over and moved the project forward. He reviewed past material and sought direction and expert advice about possible options and how to proceed. The initial drive to obtain legislative approval began in 2012 when U.S. Senator Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) introduced the Boys Town Commemorative Coin Act near the end of his term. Legislation was presented again in 2013 by Congressman Lee Terry and Senator Mike Johanns (R-Nebraska). Their work was fruitful, and in 2014 the House and Senate passed the individual acts. However, they were not approved in time for differences in the proposals to be reconciled before the end of the legislative session. Thus, the bills died, and so did hopes of producing commemorative coins. With the restructuring of the United States Commemorative Coins program in 1982, all such acts provide for the addition of surcharges to the price of the specimens. Providing particular requirements are met, the surcharges make funds MARCH 2017

available to the acts’ sponsors to support qualified programs (Commemorative Coin Act, Congress S-301 and HR-893). However, the original Boys Town Commemorative Coin Act passed by the Senate specifically did not request surcharges. The approval of the act itself was considered sufficient to honor the centennial of the founding of Father Flanagan’s Boys Town. Refusing to accept the project’s failure, Dr. Davis renewed efforts. In 2015 Boys Town returned to Congress with new legislation supported by Nebraska representatives and senators. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska) enthusiastically sponsored

SHARING SECRETS like little girls everywhere, these hearing-challenged youngsters were helped by the Boys Town hospital’s audiological research and treatment programs. www. m o n ey.o rg

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The mint decided that individual artists would be commissioned to design both the obverse and reverse to provide “story continuity” for each piece.

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and gained rapid passage of S-301, “The Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act.” And with strong leadership from Congressmen Jeff Fortenberry (R-Nebraska) and Brad Ashford (D-Nebraska), the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed HR-893. Interestingly, the new legislation followed the sage advice of D.C. insiders and added the surcharge measures that were previously omitted. The Boys Town Commemorative Act was signed into law (PL-114-30) by President Barack Obama on July 6, 2015.

Coin Development & Completion

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Since then, there has been a flurry of activity at Boys Town, the U.S. Mint, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). Soon after the law was enacted, Dr. Davis was appointed as liaison between Boys Town and the mint. Dr. Crawford asked the past and present chairs of the CCAC to provide guidance concerning the “do’s and “don’t’s” of coin design. These insights were invaluable and guided the collaboration between the home and the mint.

FATHER FLANAGAN (left) visited The White House in 1938. He was introduced to President Roosevelt by Joseph Keenan (right), assistant to the attorney general.

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THIS PUBLICITY PHOTO of Father Edward Flanagan leading the boys’ choir suggests his level of care and involvement. A call for artists was issued, and the mint drafted a short list of potential candidates. Dr. Davis invited the finalists to Boys Town to tour the campus, learn about its programs and meet with residents, which the majority of competitors accepted. Further, the mint decided that individuals would be commissioned to design both the obverse and reverse to provide “story continuity” for each piece. This concept, believed to be a first for U.S. coins, was followed through to the presentation of motifs. In February 2016, the mint’s design team submitted 45 separate obverse and reverse trial coin sketches to Boys Town for evaluation and feedback. The CCAC and the CFA met to discuss and assess the proposed designs in March 2016. Both groups made specific recommendations to the Treasury. In July 2016 the secretary of the Treasury released the final selections for the $5 gold, $1 silver and 50-cent copper-nickel-clad coins. The designs were rolled out on the Boys Town Village campus on August 23, 2016. It was decided that each of the four branch mints— West Point, Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco—would be involved in creating the dies and striking the coins. The actual production and availability of the MARCH 2017

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The actual production, scheduled for Spring 2017, will be a highlight of the centennial celebration of Father Flanagan’s dream.

THE BOYS TOWN PYLON towers over the grounds. Father Flanagan

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intentionally designed it to be seen from miles away to reassure and inspire youngsters, many of whom walked to their new home.

 THE BOYS TOWN COMMEMORATIVES are scheduled to debut this spring. The obverse of the clad half dollar (above) shows two 1900s-era brothers holding hands as they approach the village; the reverse depicts a group of Boys Town graduates in a presentday setting. The gold $5 (right, top) pictures Father Flanagan on the obverse, with a hand holding a sprouting acorn on the reverse. The silver $1 portrays a young girl seated under a tree on the obverse, with an active and engaged family playing under a sheltering oak on the reverse. Not Actual Size

commemorative coins, scheduled for Spring 2017, will be a highlight of the centennial celebration of Father Flanagan’s dream. Proceeds from the 100th-anniversary issues will advance the mission of assisting children and families in underserved communities across America. Indeed, the Father’s vision has been and continues to be manifested in the youth, alumni, staff and programs of the Village of Boys Town, Nebraska.

Acknowledgments We would like to thank Thomas Lynch, Boys Town director of community services, for his review of this article and his well-placed comments. Recognition also goes to Laurie Angus, executive assistant to Dr. Davis, for her help preparing the manuscript. The work of the numerous artists commissioned by the U.S. Mint, regardless if their designs were selected, is of the highest order and deserves commendation. We greatly appreciate the support of Boys Town in providing the majority of the photographs used for this article.  MARCH 2017

SOURCES “Boys Town. What-wedo/locations.” www.boys town.org/about/locations. “Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee 2017 Boys Town coin design picks.” www.coinworld.com/ us-coins/2016/ccacrecommendsboystown commemorativedesigns .html 2016. Ivey, James R. Images of America. Boys Town: The Constant Spirit. Charlestown, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2000. Reilly, Hugh, and Kevin Warneke. Father Flanagan of Boys Town: A Man of Vision. Boys Town, NE: Boys Town Press, 2008. “S.301 – Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act.” www.congress.gov. www. m o n ey.o rg

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