JOHN F. CROYLE - Big Oak Ranch

JOHN F. CROYLE
P. O. BOX 507
SPRINGVILLE, ALABAMA 35146
(205) 467-6226 / (205) 467-6206 (f)
EDUCATION
High School Diploma:
Gadsden High School
Gadsden, Alabama — 1969
PERSONAL
Bachelor of Arts Degree:
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama — 1974
Honorary L.H.D. (Doctor of Humanities):
University of Mobile
Mobile, Alabama — 1991
Founder of Big Oak Ranch, Inc. *which includes three ministries:
- Big Oak Boys’ Ranch in Gadsden, Alabama (est. 1974)
- Big Oak Girls’ Ranch in Springville, Alabama (est. 1988)
- Westbrook Christian School in Rainbow City, Alabama (est. 1990)
*For more information please visit www.bigoak.org
Married Teresa Smith in 1975. They have two children:
- Reagan (married to John David Phillips), former University of Alabama basketball player, homecoming queen and
professional model. Current Childcare Team Director of Big Oak Ranch
- Brodie (married to Kelli Schutz Croyle), former University of Alabama and NFL quarterback and current
Executive Director of Big Oak Ranch
Grandchildren:
- John Caden “Cade” Phillips
- William James “Will” Phillips
- Gibbs David Phillips
- John “Sawyer” Croyle
- Joseph “Luke” Croyle
John was a 2nd team All American defensive end for the University of Alabama’s 1973 National Championship football team,
playing for the legendary Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. At 19, John felt he had been given a gift to work with young people. His
dream was to have the best children’s home in America. On the advice of Coach Bryant, John declined opportunities for
professional football to pursue his dream of helping children in need. Since 1974, nearly 2,000 children have called Big Oak
Ranch home.
In addition to his work on-site at the Ranch, John speaks across the nation. Audiences range from corporate, motivational events
to Christian-based organizations. Having learned and experienced a lifetime of lessons over the past 42+ years, John’s vision is
to help people everywhere be better people, partners and parents.
HONORS
- High School All American Football & Basketball
- Signed football scholarship to University of Alabama
- SEC Champions (University of Alabama team)
- Orange, Cotton and Sugar Bowls
- National Championship
- UPI Second Team All-American
- First recipient of The Paul W. Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award
- Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Americans Award
- Olympic Torch Bearer
- America’s Awards (Norman Vincent Peale)
- Author of Bringing Out the Winner in Your Child
- Inducted into The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
- Jefferson County Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient
- Author of The Two Minute Drill to Manhood
- Author of Raising a Princess
- Author of Who Are You
- Alabama Academy of Honor inductee
NATIONALLY FEATURED PUBLICATIONS
1969
1969
1971-1973
1971-1973
1973
1973
1988
1989
1996
1997
1996
2002
2009
2012
2013
2014
2014
- Reader’s Digest — May 1987
- Sports Illustrated — December 1987
- People Magazine — July 1988
- Focus on the Family Magazine — May 1996
- Positive Living Magazine — March 1997
- Virtue Magazine — May 1997
- Time Magazine — June 1997
- USA Today — December 1997 & August 2000
- New Man Magazine — July 1998
- Stand Firm Magazine — August 1998
- In Touch Magazine — June 2004
- Southern Living Magazine — October 2005
- HomeLife & Mature Living Magazine — Fall 2006 & Fall 2007
- Cooking with Paula Deen Magazine — September/October 2007
- “The 700 Club”— 1988, 1990, 1997
- “The Today Show”
- CNN News
- ESPN — 2000 & 2005
- ABC Sports’ “Half-Time Report”
- CNN “Parenting Today”
- CBS “SEC Highlights” — 2003
- CSTV — 2005
- “Family Talk”
- “Home & Family”— February 1998 & June 1998
- Fox Sports South — 1998
- TNN Music Awards — June 2000
- Robert Schuller’s “Hour of Power” — 1989, 1992, 1997, 2008
- Jefferson Pilot — 2003
- Fox Sports Network “Pro Football Review” — November 2006
- CBS — Sun Bowl Half-Time Special
- “Parenting Life”
- Rick & Bubba - numerous times
NATIONAL TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
PHILOSOPHY
“A hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of house we lived in, the kind of car we drove or how much money we had
in the bank, but the world may be different because you and I were important in the life of a child.”
SUGGESTED INTRODUCTION
John was a former defensive end for the University of Alabama’s 1973 National Championship football team, led by the
legendary Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. At 19, John felt he had been given a gift to work with young people. His dream was to have
the best children’s home in America. On the advice of Coach Bryant, John declined opportunities for the NFL to pursue that
dream instead. Since 1974, nearly 2,000 children have called Big Oak Ranch home.
John’s philosophy is: “A hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of house we lived in, the kind of car we drove or how
much money we had in the bank, but the world may be different because you and I were important in the life of a child.”
JOHN’S FAVORITE & PREFERRED INTRODUCTION:
“Here is a guy who found out early in life what he was put on earth to do.”