Past Directors of Boys Town

Since the founding of Boys Town in 1917, there have been four Executive Directors beginning with our founder Father Edward J. Flanagan. Our past directors have been Msgr. Nicholas H. Wegner, Msgr. Robert Hupp and Father Val Peter. The current director is Father Steven Boes.

Father Edward J. Flanagan 1917-1948

Father Edward J. Flanagan is the founder and visionary for what’s known today as Boys Town. He had a dream, that every child could be a productive citizen if given love, a home, an education and a trade. He accepted boys of every race, color and creed. Father Flanagan firmly believed, “There are no bad boys. There is only bad environment, bad training, bad example, bad thinking.”

Father Flanagan was born on July 13, 1886 in County Roscommon, Ireland. In 1904, he set sail for the United States. Following his ordination in 1912, Father Flanagan was assigned to the Diocese of Omaha. His first parish assignment was Saint Patrick’s, O’Neill, Nebraska, after which he was appointed Assistant Pastor to Saint Patrick Catholic Church, Omaha, in March 1913.

On December 12, 1917, Father Flanagan opened his first Boys’ Home in a run-down Victorian mansion in Omaha, in 1921, the Boys’ Home moved to Overlook Farm, its present location near 139th and West Dodge Road. Father Flanagan and his Boys Town became internationally known with the help of the 1938 movie “Boys Town.” He became an acknowledged expert in the field of childcare and toured the United States discussing his views on juvenile delinquency.

The federal government called on Father Flanagan to help children both nationally and internationally. In 1948, President Truman asked him to travel to Europe to attend discussions about children left orphaned and displaced by World War II. During this tour, he fell ill and died of a heart attack in Berlin, Germany on May 15, 1948. Funeral services for Father Flanagan were held in the Dowd Memorial Catholic Chapel, located at the heart of his beloved Boys Town, which is also the site of his final resting place.

“…The work will continue, you see, whether I am there or not, because it is God’s work, not mine.” -Father Flanagan

Visit the Father Edward J. Flanagan Timeline for more detailed information on his life.

Read more about Father Flanagan's life and legacy in "Father Flanagan's Legacy; Hope and Healing for Children."

Visit our History page to learn more about the creation of Boys Town.

Monsignor Nicholas H. Wegner 1948-1973

Monsignor Nicholas Wegner worked quietly during his tenure to ensure that Father Flanagan's dream would extend well into the 21st Century. His pioneering efforts resulted in, among many things, the creation of the Boys Town National Research Hospital. Under Wegner's watchful care, Boys Town doubled in population, expanded educational, vocational, athletic, and arts opportunities for its residents, found a solid financial footing, and spread its ideas on youth care around the globe.

Monsignor Wegner was born in 1898, the eleventh of 12 children in a Humphrey, Nebraska, farm family. An outstanding baseball player in his youth, he received several offers from Major League Baseball teams. He turned down the offers to pursue his calling to become a priest, pitching for small farm teams to earn his way through seminary. After studying in Rome, he was ordained on March 7, 1925. Returning to Omaha he would become the Chancellor to the Omaha Diocese. Following Father Flanagan’s death, Monsignor Wegner was appointed the director of Boys Town on September 15, 1948. Under his leadership the population of the Home grew to more than 900 students. After 25 years of service Monsignor Wegner retired on September 15, 1973. He passed away on March 18, 1976, and is buried in Omaha.

“In the administration of Boys Town I will try in every way possible to follow in the footsteps of its founder. And while I look with a great deal of fear and trepidation to the task that lies before me, I feel that with the help and the cooperation of the very able staff of Boys Town and the help of God and the prayer of our friends, the good work so ably begun by Father Flanagan and carried to such glorious heights will continue to prosper and meet with success.” -Msgr. Wegner

Read more about Monsignor Wegner’s life and legacy in “ The Mission Continues: Monsignor Nicholas Wegner of Boys Town.”

Monsignor Robert P. Hupp 1973-1985

Monsignor Robert P. Hupp made two major changes during his term as Executive Director of Boys Town. During his administration, the Family Home Program replaced dormitories. It’s a system in place today, where children live in homes run by married couples known as Family-Teachers. The homes allow the kids to grow in family environments. The second change came in 1979, when Boys Town began admitting girls. The first girls to graduate from Boys Town did so in 1985.

Father Hupp, a native of Clearwater, Neb., was born on July 3, 1915, the oldest of nine children. After his ordination he served as a Navy Chaplain during World War II and founded the Christ the King Catholic Church in Omaha. On October 11, 1973 he was named the third director of Boys Town. Father Hupp retired in 1985, after thirteen years of leadership. Monsignor Hupp passed away on August 29, 2003 and is buried in Omaha, Nebraska.

“In 1973, when I came upon the scene, it was no great feat to move ahead. We see far, you know, when we stand on the shoulders of giants. It was the charismatic program innovator, Father Flanagan, complemented by the administrative executive, Monsignor Wegner, who provided the frame for me to climb.” -Msgr. Hupp

Father Valentine J. Peter 1985-2005

Father Valentine J. Peter expanded Father Flanagan’s dream of changing the way America cares for her children and families. He led the growth of Boys Town from the Village of Boys Town, Nebraska, to 19 sites in 14 states and Washington D.C.

An Omaha, Neb., native, Father Peter was the fourth executive director of Boys Town. He assumed the post June 15, 1985.

Under his direction, Boys Town grew to provide direct care, including hospital treatment, to more than 43,000 children each year. A million more were helped each year through outreach and training programs.

Father Peter also is on the boards or committees of more than 20 national and local organizations. He has published numerous books and popular and scholarly articles.

Father Peter holds doctorate degrees in both Canon Law and Theology. His service to children as a youth advocate, educator, and friend has spanned more than four decades. Father Peter retired as Executive Director of Boys Town on July 1, 2005.

“Father Flanagan’s mission of changing the way America cares for her at-risk children is still our mission today. His mission is a gift to all of us (boys and girls, families, workers, donors and supporters). To carry out this mission requires an enormous effort, but the blessings are even greater.” -Father Peter

Read some of Father Peter’s Letters.

Father Steven Boes 2005-Today

Father Steven E. Boes is the National Executive Director of Boys Town. On July, 1, 2005, he became the fourth priest to succeed Father Edward J. Flanagan, the founder of Boys Town, who began this work in 1917.

As National Executive Director, Father Boes oversees one of the largest, privately funded nonprofit, nonsectarian child care agencies in America. Under his leadership, a continuum of child and family services is being developed, strategically combining Boys Town's quality youth care and health care programs in an effort to help more children and families.

Through its youth care and health care programs, Boys Town directly cares for more than 47,000 children in 14 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, Boys Town's National Hotline and Outreach services reach nearly an additional 1 million children and families.

Father Boes has more than 20 years experience as a nonprofit director, counselor and youth advocate. He has been a priest of the Archdiocese of Omaha since 1985. In his previous assignment, he served as the Director of St. Augustine Indian Mission in Winnebago, Nebraska. In this position he worked to establish programs to help Winnebago and Omaha children preserve their traditional language, spirituality and culture.

Father Boes is a native of Carroll, Iowa and a graduate of Pope John Central Catholic High School in Elgin, Nebraska. He holds a bachelor's degree, summa cum laude, in sociology and master's degrees in theology and divinity from the University of St. Thomas and a master's degree in counseling from Creighton University in Omaha. Father Boes is an avid alpine mountain climber, cross-country skier, and outdoor enthusiast. Fr. Boes serves on the Board of Directors of Mid-America Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the Alliance for Children and Families.

Boys Town's mission is to Change the Way America Cares for Children and Families by Providing and Promoting a Continuum of Care that Strengthens Mind, Body and Spirit. Boys Town's effective results in its programs are now being combined in an effort to provide children and families with the right care at the right time. About 1,200 children are cared for in a family style Boys Town program each day and many more receive help in their homes through In-Home Family Services programs. In health care, the Boys Town National Research Hospital is one of the nation's leading children's research hospitals, serving over 30,000 children a year. Boys Town health care specializes in communication disorders and in the medical and behavioral care of at-risk youth.

“Father Flanagan’s legacy – ‘The work will continue you see… because it is God’s work, not mine’ – is what I will attempt to live up to. God’s work has pointed me in this direction, and I must keep focused on saving these children in desperate need.” –Father Boes

Read a greeting from Father Boes.