A Life Transformed, A Legacy Honored: Markes Thomas Inducted into the BGCBC Alumni Hall of Fame
A Life Transformed, A Legacy Honored: Markes Thomas Inducted into the BGCBC Hall of Fame
Markes Thomas has always believed in the power of possibility and for Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, that belief has grown into a legacy defined by resilience, service, and transformation.
This year marks a historic moment as Markes becomes one of the organization’s first-ever Alumni Hall of Fame inductees—a fitting honor for all the years of impact he has had in the community. It’s a recognition not just of professional achievement, but of a life shaped by the very mission he now leads.
Markes’s journey didn’t begin in an office—it began in need.
At just 13 years old, after the devastating loss of his mother to violence, he found himself searching for stability in the midst of grief. It was then that the Boys & Girls Club became more than a place to go after school—it became his sanctuary. Encouraged by his grandmother, Essie Mae Gantt Thomas, he attended a summer program at the Nan Knox Club formerly called the North West Club. What he found there changed the trajectory of his life.
The Club’s director didn’t just offer him a safe space—he offered him responsibility, mentorship, and belief. Markes was given a job, structure, and most importantly, a community that refused to let him drift.
“They refused to let me act out after the tragedy,” Markes recalls. “Collectively, they made sure I stayed busy, stayed here, and interacted in programs. That’s why I’m who I am today.”
One pivotal moment stayed with him. After an incident at school, his director reminded him of something he had once said—that the Club was his sanctuary, his second home.
“He told me, ‘This is like church. Now you have to set the example for others.’”
That message became a guiding principle.
Raised by strong women—his grandmother and great-grandmother, Mary Lee Barnes—Markes was grounded in faith and community. He attended Mount Nebo Missionary Baptist Church, where those early values were reinforced. Today, he continues that spiritual commitment as a Junior Warden at Saint Christopher Episcopal Church, carrying forward the same sense of responsibility and service.
His professional journey reflects that same steady growth. Starting at the Harold “Hackie” Reitman, M.D. Club, Markes worked his way through various roles over nearly four decades—learning every layer of the organization, building relationships, and sharpening his leadership along the way.
Today, he is the Club Director at the Nan Knox Club / Linda & Douglas Von Allmen Campus, while also overseeing the adjacent Fred DeLuca Teen Center. Known affectionately as “Coach Markes,” he has become a cornerstone of the community a steady presence for young people navigating challenges of their own.
Under his leadership, the Club is more than a facility—it’s a foundation. A place where youth are supported, challenged, and inspired to envision something greater for themselves.
Markes doesn’t just lead programs—he builds people.
He is widely recognized as a community leader, a positive role model, and someone deeply committed to the mission. His story resonates because it mirrors the very youth he now serves. He understands firsthand what it means to face adversity—and more importantly, what it means to overcome it with the right support system.
“The Boys & Girls Club provided guidance and leadership for me,” he says. “And it’s our job and responsibility to do the same for this upcoming generation. These children’s futures are in our hands. These are our future doctors, our lawyers, our future nurses—and we have to invest in our future.”
His Hall of Fame induction is a full-circle moment. From a young boy seeking refuge to a leader providing it, his journey embodies the idea that sometimes, the place that saves you becomes the place you’re meant to serve.
And for countless young people walking through those doors today, Coach Markes is ensuring that sanctuary remains exactly what they need it to be.
