Front Office

In his early years, Alex Spanos worked day and night, seven days a week in his father’s bakery. His growing family was struggling to make ends meet on $40 a week. In 1951, at the age of 27, the time came for Spanos to make the toughest business decision of his life – to stay in the family business or strike out on his own.

More than 57 years later, Spanos is the founder of one of the leading real estate and development companies in the building industry. He is the founder of A.G. Spanos Companies, one of the nation’s largest family-owned construction companies, and his commitment to quality and integrity are imprinted in the daily operation and management of the San Diego Chargers as well as the 10 companies that are wholly owned and managed by the Spanos family.   

REALIZING A DREAM

The success of the A.G. Spanos Companies has allowed him to pursue many dreams, including owning a National Football League team.  

“I always believed in the pursuit of one’s dreams,” Spanos said in announcing his intention to buy the team. “For me, it has been a lifelong goal to own an NFL team. In buying the San Diego Chargers, I’ve been able to realize a dream.”

On Aug. 1, 1984, the dream became reality. 

Alex turned over the day-to-day operations of the Chargers to his oldest son, Dean, in 1994 and it was with great pride in 2006 that Alex decided to step back from the team altogether and become a full-time fan. He enjoys watching sons, Dean and Michael, along with grandsons, A.G. and John, guide the Chargers organization to success.

A MODEL BUSINESS

Spanos made family part of his formula for business success. The A.G. Spanos organization, including the Chargers, is a family-run operation. 

Dean serves as president-chief executive officer of the Chargers and president of the Spanos corporate organization. Michael manages the construction and development activities of the company and is the executive vice president of the Chargers. Dean’s two sons – A.G. and John – both hold positions in the Chargers’ front office. Spanos’ daughter, Dea, has two sons, Dimitri and Lex Economou, who both work for A.G. Spanos Companies. Dimitri works in land acquisitions for the Southern California division and Lex heads the construction division in Denver, Colorado. In addition to the Chargers, the Spanos companies comprise of the following: A.G. Spanos Construction, Inc.; A.G. Spanos Management, Inc.; A.G. Spanos Development, Inc.; A.G. Spanos Enterprises, Inc.; A.G. Spanos Realty, Inc.; AGS Financial Corporation; AGS International Corporation; A.G. Spanos Securities Corporation; A.G. Spanos Ventures, and The Spanos Corporation.

GIVING BACK

Spanos’ community spirit and generosity have paid countless dividends worldwide.  

The Chargers Community Foundation was created and funded by Spanos in 1995 and has delivered more than $8 million to help San Diego build on its strengths by supporting individuals, activities and organizations that work to make the city a better place to live. It focuses on youth and education and is a major source of community support in San Diego. 

Spanos has always been a strong supporter of high school sports in San Diego. He annually sponsors the CIF San Diego Section football championships, allowing the games to be played in Qualcomm Stadium, and his backing of the San Diego High School Sports Association and the San Diego County high school all-star football game led to the game being named the Alex Spanos All-Star Football Classic in 1993. 

Spanos led the effort to bring Super Bowl XXXVII to San Diego in January 2003, marking the second time in five years that Spanos had delivered the Super Bowl and focused the world’s attention on San Diego. Spanos is credited for using his influence with the NFL and its owners to land Super Bowl XXXII for the City of San Diego, played Jan. 25, 1998. Each game brought close to $300 million to the regional economy. 

Spanos’ leadership also was instrumental in bringing the 1996 Republican National Convention to San Diego, yet another financial coup for the city.  

Here are just a few of the notable gifts from Spanos and the Foundation to San Diego:

• The Foundation’s first contribution was a $1.5 million donation to kick off the $6.5 million fundraising effort for the San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum.  
• In 1998, Spanos announced the creation of the Brooke Humphries Heart Fund in honor of retiring quarterback Stan Humphries. Spanos made a six-figure contribution to San Diego Children’s Hospital in Brooke’s name. Stan’s daughter, Brooke, underwent major surgery at the hospital to correct a heart birth defect.  
• Spanos and his family kicked off the week of Super Bowl XXXII in 1998 with major six-figure contributions to both Children’s Hospital and Christmas in April.  
• In 1995, Spanos’ financial support led to the development of a multi-use sports facility for the Pacific Beach community and the students of Kate Sessions Elementary and The Bishop’s School. The Alex G. Spanos Sports Fields were dedicated in 1997.
• In 1994, he kicked off a fundraising telethon for the San Diego Olympic Training Center with another six figure pledge and a challenge to the local community.  
• Spanos built the state-of-the-art Alex G. Spanos Athletic and Recreation Building at the University of California-San Diego.  
• Children’s Hospital benefited as did San Diego County Easter Seals when he served as chairman of their telethons. He also chaired the Loaned Executive campaign drive for United Way/CHAD.  
• Following the completion of the national World War II Memorial in Washington D.C., Spanos made it possible for more than 145 WWII vets and their families from Northern California to take a trip to visit the Memorial. Operation Freedom Flight, as it was called, raised $225,000, including nearly $100,000 from Spanos.
 • In 1998, Spanos generously gave separate $1 million donations to four different institutions in California. His support to his alma mater, the University of the Pacific, improved the stadium, athletic facilities and residence halls for the entire student population.  
• A similar contribution to Sacramento State’s athletic facilities enabled the university to host the 2000 Olympic track and field trials. The same support also went to rebuild the Samuel N. Hancock Christian School, a private school in an urban area of Stockton. 
• In 1997, he gave $1 million to the American Red Cross to help flood victims in Northern California and helped raise an additional $1 million.  

Other notable efforts by Spanos include spearheading a 1991 campaign during the Gulf War crisis that raised more than $4.5 million for the USO, the most successful fund-raising event in its history.  He also was the founder and driving force behind seven biennial fund-raising dinners benefiting assorted children’s charities, including San Diego Children’s Hospital and Health Center, and each dinner neared or topped $1 million.

HONORED FOR GENEROSITY

Organizations across the country and around the world have honored Spanos often for his generosity.

In September, 2009, Spanos will be inducted into the Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo Hall of Fame for his support of the university. The support from Alex and Faye has allowed the school to renovate and expand their 11,000-seat football and soccer stadium, leading to it being renamed Alex G. Spanos Stadium. The gift was the single largest gift in the history of Cal-Poly athletics. In addition, the couple funded the renovation of the university's music center and theatre that was later renamed the Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre. 

In 2008, he was awarded the Medal of the Commander of the Order of Honor by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Karolos Papoulias. The honor came in recognition of his assistance and humanitarian contributions to his country of heritage, Greece. Spanos’ contributions in support of Greece included a $1 million pledge to the Greek Fire Relief Fund, established by the Archdiocese. His financial support also has gone to earthquake relief efforts, education in the form of scholarships and grants to improve schools, build new libraries, and numerous projects focused on promoting and honoring the rich history and traditions of Greece. 

Also in ’08, Spanos was honored by the NFL Alumni Association with its Order of the Leather Helmet Award for his substantial contributions to professional football.  

Spanos and his wife, Faye, were appointed by President George W. Bush to the Presidential Delegation to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. They were joined on the Delegation by Former President George H.W. Bush, Barbara Bush, their granddaughters, Barbara and Jenna, The Honorable Thomas Miller, U.S. Ambassador to Greece and former tennis champion, Chris Evert. In 2007, Spanos was awarded the medal of Commander of the Order of the Phoenix by the Government of Greece for his many contributions to that country.  

In 2004, Alex and Faye also were awarded honorary degrees of Doctor of Humane Letters at the commencement exercises for Hellenic College/Holy Cross. That same year Mr. Spanos received a Doctor of Humanities from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. 

Father Nicholas Triantafilou, President of Hellenic College, noted that “Faye and Alex Spanos represent all that is good about our Greek American heritage and Orthodox faith. At the center of their more than six decades together is the love, respect and honor which they have for each other, their family, their church and the great community in which they live.”

Spanos has received many of the nation’s and San Diego’s most prestigious honors for his commitment to community and humanity, including the Horatio Alger Award, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Gloria Swanson Humanitarian Award, the Grand Cross of Honour by the Supreme Council of Scottish Rite, and the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai Brith’s National Distinguished Community Service Award for devotion to community and concern for others. Dean earned the unique distinction of becoming a second generation recipient of the Ellis Island Award in 2002. 

Alex also has received many of San Diego’s top honors for his generosity, including awards given by the Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce, the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau and the San Diego Boys and Girls Clubs.  

HIS STORY

These acts of caring demonstrate the commitment of a man who carved a remarkable career in business and whose dedication to family and community has been an inspiring example for others. 

Spanos outlined his lifelong credo of giving back in his autobiography, “Sharing the Wealth: My Story”, a compelling first-hand account of the events and decisions in his life that became his basic fundamentals for success. As he reveals in his book, he feels it’s a duty and privilege to share his secrets of success. 

In the book’s foreword, Rush Limbaugh says: “You are about to race through a marvelous and riveting account of a distinctly American life in which the concepts of ‘failure’ and ‘can’t’ do not apply…Be prepared to be dazzled, informed, entertained, and challenged….This is a book that will change your life forever and for the good.”  

Spanos was born in 1923 in Stockton, California. He developed his tireless work ethic early, starting at age eight in his father’s restaurant, rising before dawn to help prepare pastries before attending school. In 1951, Spanos borrowed $800, purchased a truck and set out on his own.  

He began his own catering business and later began investing in real estate. In 1960, he formed the A.G. Spanos Construction Company.  

Another side to this complex man was revealed with the help of his close friend Bob Hope. Spanos displayed an entertainer’s talent and flair when he lived a childhood dream and danced on stage. Together, Spanos and Hope sang and danced on numerous occasions both in the United States and abroad.  

Spanos’ acquisition of the Chargers culminated a lifelong interest and involvement in sports. He earned varsity letters in swimming and diving at the University of the Pacific in Stockton and later distinguished himself as an amateur golfer. Spanos was the first person ever to be on the winning team in both the Bob Hope Desert Classic in Palm Desert (1977) and the Bob Hope British Pro-Am (1980). 

Alex and his wife, Faye, are celebrating 61 years of marriage this year (Aug. 22). The couple has four children – Dean, Dea (Mrs. Ron Berberian), Alexis (Mrs. Barry Ruhl), and Michael – 15 grandchildren and one great-grandson. They maintain residences in Stockton and Palm Springs, California, and Tarpon Springs, Florida.