Julius W. Erving

Born in 1950, Julius Erving was the second of three children. His father abandoned the family when Erving was just three. Until she remarried nine years later, his mother raised her children alone and supported them by cleaning houses. They lived in the Hempstead housing projects on New York's Long Island.

Erving was a quiet, serious child who spent much of his time on the basketball court at the local playground. He had a paper route and later worked at several part-time jobs until he finished high school. Tall for his age, Erving measured 5 feet 4 inches when he was only nine. The playground director put him on the team for 10- to 12-year-olds, and with Erving's help, the team quickly became the best on Long Island.

At Roosevelt High School, Erving led his team to the county playoffs. Many college scholarships came his way, but he accepted an offer from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, despite the fact that UM-Amherst was not a national basketball powerhouse. He played three seasons there and was ranked second in the nation for rebounding. The Virginia Squires, an American Basketball Association team, recruited him. Erving played well, but in relative obscurity with the Squires. After two years, he was traded to the New York Nets, which he then led to two championships.

Erving entered the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1976 when he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. Erving brought a new level of excellence and entertainment to the arena, and the decade he played in Philadelphia revitalized the game nationwide. In 1983, his team won the NBA championship. In 16 seasons of professional ball, "Dr. J", as he was nicknamed, transformed the game with his rebounding skills and trademark slam dunk. He was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 1981 and the NBA All-Star Game's Most Valuable Player in 1977 and 1983.

Throughout his spectacular basketball career, Erving was as much a champion off the court as he was on it. Often called "the ambassador of sport," he devoted much of his time to charitable organizations. Sports Illustrated magazine said of him, "He was a heroic role model who cared about family, society, morals, and issues. The man is a crystal chandelier above our national consciousness."

In 1986, the year before he retired, Erving returned to the University of Massachusetts to complete his bachelor's degree. The self-described "businessman-entrepreneur" became president of The Erving Group and of Dr. J. Enterprises, and a part owner of the Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

"The way I played basketball was never about bringing attention to myself, but it was always about proving myself," says Erving, who was recognized in 1986 for his outstanding athletic accomplishments and for serving as an exemplary role model for America's youth with the Freedom Leadership Award. "Sometimes it was fun, and sometimes it was hard work. The work itself is what counts."

Honored by his Horatio Alger Award, Erving says, "Going back to school and finishing my college education meant a lot to me. I am happy to be part of an Association that makes educating our youth a priority."