Chet Nichols
Boys & Girls Clubs in Tennessee - 2018 Hall of Fame Inductee
Chet Nichols
Chet Nichols has been involved with Boys & Girls Clubs since the age of five when he first joined the local Boys Club located in Denison, Texas. When his family relocated to Panama City, Florida, at the age of 12, Chet found the Bay County Boys Club as a Club member and during his teenage years, served as a Jr. Staff for the Club. Nichols later became an employee of the organization, as he provided swimming lessons for younger members. Walt Hall, longtime CEO in Panama City, mentored Chet and much of what Chet knows about youth development he gives credit to Walt.
Upon his high school graduation, Chet was offered and accepted a Boys Club scholarship to Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee. After graduating with a degree in Business Administration, he accepted a fulltime position with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Jacksonville, Florida. In 1986, his family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee where he became the Unit Director and was later promoted to Vice President of Operations with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Knoxville.
In September 2005, Chet was offered and accepted a fulltime position with Boys & Girls Clubs of America as a Regional Service Director. While his title has changed to Director of Organizational Development, Chet oversees and works closely with most of our Tennessee organizations, assisting them in board development, resource development, staff training, safety, public relations and quality programming. Throughout his career, Chet has always made the Boys & Girls Club organizations he has worked with, better than before his involvement. Many staff in our Movement owe their career development to Chet Nichols as he has and continues to serve as a mentor, friend and advocate for Boys & Girls Club members and professionals.
Chet is a graduate of the Boys Club Management Program, held in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1985. In addition, Nichols received the Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Service to Youth Award for 37 years of service and is a recipient of the Presidents Circle award in 2015-2016.
For over 55 years – Chet has been affiliated with Boys & Girls Clubs as either a member or an employee and has never gone to work a day in his life! If you have ever met Chet Nichols and talked to him for a few minutes, you have a friend for life. He is one of the nicest people you will ever encounter and always puts the other person first in all situations. A true friend to all, Chet is a prime example of a Boys & Girls Club Alumni success story.
He is married to the lovely Alice Nichols and the proud parent of two grown daughters - Kristin and Katelyn - and one granddaughter – Charley Rey.