STEVEN V. HAYNES

COMMISSIONER

2006-2011

© San Diego Police Historical Association MMXI

All Rights Reserved

AUGUST 24, 1954 - FEBRUARY 18, 2011

THE THIN BLUE LINE

POST A REFLECTION FOR STEVEN

Steven Haynes, founder of Athletes for Education, dies at 56

By Blanca Gonzalez, UNION-TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 5:16 p.m.

A shoulder injury shortened Steven Haynes’ pro football career but didn’t stop him from making a big impact in another arena. As founder and CEO of Athletes for Education, Mr. Haynes devoted himself to helping improve the lives of inner-city youths.

The former Los Angeles Rams player did everything from recruiting athletes and raising money to developing programs and promoting events that benefit students and encourages them to do well in school.

The nonprofit organization he started in 1994 has grown from three local football players visiting a few high schools regularly to a variety of events and projects that include literacy and fitness programs, more than a dozen athlete mentorship projects and annual holiday parties and toy giveaways for students in San Diego and Tijuana.

Mr. Haynes died of heart failure Feb. 18 in San Diego. He was 56.

Friends and family said Mr. Haynes talked of combining his love of sports and passion for helping youth since the 1980s, when he was working as a physical therapist following his brief football career. Leon White, former Helix High and L.A. Rams football player, was a college student when he first met Mr. Haynes. They were both working out at a local gym and Mr. Haynes talked to him about his vision for an organization that would get athletes “to help kids build their dreams and be successful in life,” White said.

Mr. Haynes always stressed that he would rather have an athlete’s time than his money, White said. “He knew that (professional athletes) would get the kids excited about participating (in AFE programs) and possibly turn their lives around,” he said. “A lot of kids look at athletes as role models … we tried to be mentors to them.” White has been on the AFE board of directors for the last eight years and he hosts a football camp each year for middle school students who have met academic and citizenship goals set by their teachers.

Della Cole also met Mr. Haynes at a local gym in the 1980s. “Everyone knows me as Steve’s little sister because we’ve been inseparable since I met him when I was 19. He’s my daughter’s godfather,” Cole said. “Steve was very personable, he talked to anyone and people just gravitated to him.”

Mr. Haynes was always thinking about kids and the community, Cole said. “Steve’s message was about school. He wanted kids to know that education was important and that you don’t have to be an athlete to be successful. He would tell athletes ‘Let’s go tell these kids about life choices (and) stay in school.’”

Mr. Haynes was active with the San Diego Police Historical Association and was on the board of directors for the San Diego chapter of the National Football Foundation/College Hall of Fame. He also enjoyed music and racquetball.

Steve Willard of the Police Historical Association said Mr. Haynes was passionate about helping disadvantaged children. “His dedication was extraordinary,” Willard said. Mr. Haynes was usually networking with sports figures, coordinating fundraisers, getting donations and doing whatever else was needed to help Athletes for Education, he said.

Steven Vincent Haynes was born Oct. 24, 1954, in Fairbanks, Alaska, to Ethel and John Williams Haynes, a minister. He grew up in Virginia and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in kinesiology/exercise physiology from Norfolk State University. He earned a master’s degree in clinical and community psychology from Norfolk State. He played briefly in the United States Football League and for the Los Angeles Rams.

He was predeceased by his mother. He is survived by his father, John Williams Haynes; his stepmother, Shirley; a sister, Lisa Marie, of Norfolk, Va.; a daughter, Stacey, of Seabrook, N.H.; and three stepsisters, Elizabeth Gravette of Stanford, Santa Williams of Hampton, Va., and LaVare Ricks of Virginia Beach, Va.

A memorial service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Calvary Chapel, 1771 East Palomar, Chula Vista.

He lived life his way. When you are doing things your way for the benefit of others, you are doing it God's way and for the glory of God.

Reverend John W. Haynes