David Daggett: Lifelong Big Brother

When attorney David Daggett commits to something he goes all in, whether it’s a commitment to family, clients, or athletics. His exploits as an Iron Man competitor are legendary, and so is his support for numerous charities and organizations, ranging from the Down Syndrome Association to his signature Safe Sober initiative, now in its 35th year. In 1982, while attending Wake Forest Law School, David hooked up with Big Brothers, Big Sisters (BBBS), and became a mentor to then 11-year-old Chuck Lewis, who today owns a successful delivery service. It’s a friendship that has continued for over 40 years. I recently caught up with David and Chuck and asked them to talk about their long relationship.

JL:  David, why did you want to be a Big Brother?

DD:  I had a desire to help younger, underprivileged people and make a difference, so my friend John Smith and I started a chapter of BBBS at the law school. We started out with maybe 10 matches among our group.

JL:  How did you get paired up with Chuck?

DD:  I went down to the Big Brothers office and met with the executive director, and he and his team made the pairing.

JL:  Chuck, what path were you on at that time?

CL:  I was getting into trouble, mainly fighting at school to defend myself because I was overweight. There was no dad in our home, so my Mom had to be both mother and father.

JL:  What activities did you and David do together back then?

CL:  He would take me to various sports events at Wake Forest. Sometimes we would make pizza, which was my favorite thing to do. Once he took me to meet his parents in Boone and while we were there, we went snow skiing.

JL:  How has David’s mentorship had an impact on your life?

CL:  He showed me that I could be more in life in terms of a career, and he also demonstrated what true friendship is really like. He didn’t look at the color of my skin (I’m Black), instead he looked into my need.

JL:  David, do you and Chuck still stay in touch?

DD:  Yes. We text and email quite frequently and get together for breakfast occasionally. In addition to running a business, Chuck is quite a musician and over the past five years I’ve asked his band to play at the annual Smiley Triathlon for cancer research that I produce.

JL:  Chuck, do you mentor young folks today?

CL:  Yes, I work with high school students who come to me when they have a problem. I’ve had students say that I was like a father to them, and that makes it all worthwhile.

JL:  David, who was your mentor when you were young?

DD:  I was very fortunate to have a lot of role models and mentors, including, of course, my father. But also, my wrestling coach, Coach LeBeau, who passed away a number of years ago. Who knows where I’d be without him. 

JL:  Why are adult mentors so important?

DD:  The biggest thing is that young people need to know someone cares. There was a recent study done that showed the common denominator of a successful person was that they had one person outside of their own family who took a special interest in them and love them. That special interest and love turns into a two-way street, and Chuck and I have certainly had that over the years.

JL:  Why should business and professional folks become Big Brothers and Big Sisters?

DD:  You will be making a difference in the world, one piece at a time, and it changes lives FOREVER!

CL:  I still consider David my Big Brother and will do so for the rest of our lives.

According to BBBS CEO Shawan Gabriel, since 1977 the agency has served over 20,000 boys and girls in Forsyth and Davie Counties alone, and today more than 300 children are enrolled in the program. But, says Gabriel, “there is a waiting list, and 130 kids are still hoping to be matched with a Big Brother.” For more information, visit  BBBSNC.org.