Friends…25 Years Strong

“Lemon meringue pie kicks off a great match”

Written by: William Mastin

“I was always waiting outside for him to show up…like a giddy feeling,” Little Brother Brandon Morgan remembers about Big Brother Doug Dewhurst.

Doug was only 23 years old when he first met 7-year-old Brandon. Doug had recently graduated college and moved back home to San Diego. Brandon lived with his mother, never having met his father even to this day.

“Are you my new Big Brother?” Brandon asked when Doug pulled up in his old BMW.

Later that day, the match headed off to Marie Calendars’ to share lemon meringue pie and start a friendship that has lasted the past 25 years.

Now, over two decades later, Brandon and Doug can truly appreciate the meaning of their time together.

““Having Doug allowed me to do and try things I probably would have never been able to do,” said Little Brother Brandon.

“I probably wouldn’t have played sports with out him and I certainly wouldn’t be golfing without Doug.”

In addition to golf, Doug introduced Brandon to soccer, baseball and deep sea fishing. Meeting two or more times a month allowed for a variety of activities as well as bonding time between the two.

Doug gets a kick out of playing golf with the adult Brandon, remembering how difficult is was to get the adolescent Brandon to give golf a try.

“My definition of a Big Brother is to provide friendship, support, and role model attributes while a young boy is growing up. Then, as years go by, true friendship and support remain in full force. Brandon is one of my best friends,” said Big Brother Doug.

When Brandon married his wife Lindsay last year, Doug was there.

“Being a Big Brother is awesome. It always has been special and has been rewarding to see Brandon grow and mature over the years. Every time I am with Brandon it gives me joy. It was special to be at his wedding last year and a true reflection of Brandon is his wonderful wife Lindsay. It is great to see,” said Doug.

“The thing that still blows my mind to this day is that he was 23 when he became a Big Brother. This spoke highly of the type of person he is. I know I was not in that frame of mind at 23,” said Brandon.

For Doug, the most important lesson learned as a Big Brother is the realization that even small gestures can make a big difference and that giving back to a child feels good.

Apparently Brandon picked up this same lesson over the years. Recently he sent his Big Brother a text message simply saying, “Thank you for taking the time to change my life… Love you Bro!”