Men of Courage 2025 Lifetime Achievement honorees pose for a group photo Dec. 6, 2025, at the Oswald Durant Center. From left, Col. Jim Paige (ret), Robert Trout, Founder Anthony Suggs Sr., Michael Diggins and Gregory Wright. Not pictured is recipient Bill Euille.
The spirit of service and mentorship filled the room as the 2025 Men of Courage Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented Dec. 6, 2025, at the Oswald Durant Center, celebrating five men whose leadership and dedication have made a lasting impact on the city’s youth and families.
The evening celebrated the 10th anniversary of the organization, which was founded in 2013 by former boxing champion Anthony Suggs Sr. The Men of Courage Awards have become a cornerstone of Alexandria’s community recognition efforts, highlighting men who lead by example and dedicate themselves to uplifting others through mentorship, service, and advocacy.
The annual awards ceremony drew a full house of community leaders, past honorees, families, and supporters who gathered to honor the 2025 recipients. The evening emphasized the central theme of the Men of Courage mission: recognizing individuals who “reach back” to guide and support the next generation.
The 2025 awardees, recognized for their commitment to youth development, community engagement, and leadership, included Col. Jim Paige (ret), Robert Trout, Michael Diggins, Gregory Wright and Bill Euille. Each honoree was acknowledged for consistent, hands-on service that has strengthened Alexandria neighborhoods and institutions.
Suggs, who founded the program after reflecting on the mentors who shaped his own life, emphasized the role his faith played in shaping his life following his downfall due to drugs.
“Anyone that lived the life that I lived before I came to the other side shouldn’t even be here,” Suggs said. “So many times it could have turned another way for me but I always felt that God brought me through what he brought me through because he wanted me to give back.”
Suggs, a local boxing legend, was on track to make the 1988 U.S. Olympic team before drugs and jail torpedoed his career in the ring. In 1987, Suggs was a five-time Golden-Gloves Champion, National Golden Glove Finalist, Golden Gloves Outstanding Boxer of the year and Olympic Festival Gold Medalist Amateur boxer which ranked him # 1 in the country and #4 in the world by the USA Amateur Boxing Federation.
As an amateur, Suggs won 138 matches, 116 of which were knockouts. He lost only 12 times. He shares his life story as a cautionary tale in his book “Da Beast Within — Still the Champ.”
In recent years he has devoted his work to the community, which includes honoring the Men of Courage who have been positive youth role models.
His efforts throughout the region were recognized in 2023 when he received the Presidential Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award.
Said Suggs, “I always felt that God didn’t bring me this far to leave me.”