History Moments Father Flanagan

NET salutes Nebraska's History. Boys Town was founded in 1917 by Father Edward Flanagan as a home and school for homeless, abandoned and neglected boys. The first boys home was a 25th and Dodge Streets in Omaha and sheltered five boys. In 1921, Overlook Farm became the Boys Town campus. Today its a home and school to boys and girls. The philosophy of Boys Town is summarized in Father Flanagan's words: Our young people are our greatest wealth, give them a chance and they will give a good account of themselves. No boy wants to be bad, there is only bad environment, bad training, bad example, bad thinking. Today there are numerous Boys Town facilities across America providing youth and family services to as many as two million people. Father Flanagan is currently a candidate for sainthood as declared by the Catholic church. This Nebraska History Moment was presented by NET.