Actor Hugh O'Brian was a full-fledged TV and movie hero in the 1950s.

America knew him well as Wyatt Earp and other bigger-than-life characters. But to O'Brian, real heroes were people like Dr. Albert Schweitzer, who'd won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952.

O'Brian was honored when, in 1958, Schweitzer invited him to visit the hospital he'd set up in Africa to care for the sick and dying.

O'Brian spent nine days with Dr. Schweitzer. He came back inspired to help pass on the torch of humanitarian dedication embodied by Schweitzer through a leadership program for American teens, and formed Hugh O'Brian Youth (HOBY)Leadership.

In the 50 years since, HOBY has helped thousands of high school students learn to apply leadership principles to building a better world for the future.

One of those youths is Burbank High School junior Joe Nerlinger. Last year, a teacher nominated Nerlinger as a potential attendee for a HOBY seminar for sophomores at Occidental College.

Nerlinger passed HOBY's stringent selection process, attended the seminar, and enjoyed it so much that he was very pleased to be nominated to return this year as a junior counselor.

Before he could go, he had to find people to provide financial sponsorship. One of them was the father of childhood playmate Tyler Korb, whom Nerlinger has known since before first grade. Tyler's father, Brad Korb, was delighted to help sponsor Nerlinger's return to HOBY.

"I know that Joe puts in a lot of time around the community in volunteer capacities. I'm proud of my son's friend, and proud to help sponsor his involvement in HOBY," Korb said.