William T. Coleman was born in 1892 in Baltimore, Maryland.  After graduating from Hampton Institute in 1912, Coleman found his calling in Boys’ Club work.  Hired as the Superintendent of the Wissahickon Boys’ Club in 1913, Coleman became the second, full-time, African-American Club superintendent in the Movement.  Opening in 1903, the Wissahickon Boys’ Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was one of the original 53 organizations in the Federation and the first Club opened to serve African American youth. From 1913-1925, Coleman and the Wissahickon Club won numerous national awards for program excellence. Due to his success at the local level, he was hired as the part-time Field Secretary, Colored Work by Boys’ Clubs Federation in 1926. After his six years as field secretary, the number of African-American Clubs had grown to 14 clubs with 6,000 members. More important, his work enabled other African Americans to enter the Federation and grow professionally.  After returning to Wissahickon full-time, Coleman continued to serve as a leader in the Movement and to be recognized nationally.  After 42 years of service, Coleman retired in 1955. At the close of his tenure, he won numerous lifetime achievement awards including Boys’ Club Bronze Keystone Award (1953), Boys’ Club Golden Anniversary Award (1955) and the Golden Achievement Award in 1961 from the Professional Association of Boys’ Clubs of America. William T. Coleman, Sr. died in 1967.