The NCAA announced its 2025 Legends and Legacy Community Award recipients for Tampa, Florida, and San Antonio, host cities of this year's Women's and Men's Final Fours.
The 10 honorees are local residents, business leaders and concerned neighbors who have committed their time, resources and influence to improve and invest in their home cities and surrounding areas. As part of the award criteria, the finalists have had a major impact on sports, equity, government, health and safety, and higher education in their communities and fields of work.
The community leaders will be recognized in or around game activities in Tampa and San Antonio during Final Four weekend. This year's Women's Final Four will be April 4 and 6, and the Men's Final Four will be April 5 and 7.
"The 2025 Legends and Legacy Community Award is an honor for local citizens whose investments and generosity have lasting positive change within their cities," said Felicia Martin, NCAA senior vice president. "This year's recipients are true champions for their hometowns — committed to doing something good for their neighborhoods, dedicated to creating opportunities for fellow citizens and passionate about serving their community in unique and meaningful ways."
Recognizing that sport has a unique way to bring people together, build community and establish connection, the NCAA has leveraged the March Madness platform to elevate the importance of service to the community and helping others. In addition to the NCAA Legends and Legacy Community Award, the NCAA also conducts literacy programs, court restorations, speaking forums and other community outreach initiatives during Final Four week.
The NCAA Legends and Legacy Community Award focuses on elevating everyday residents who are busy solving problems for their city with innovation, teamwork and respect for all. And just like the Final Four March Madness teams, these recipients recognize the importance of a collaborative spirit, share a common goal and work together toward victory.
Women's Final Four Legends and Legacy honorees:
Derrick Brooks
Executive Vice President of Corporate and Community Development, Vinik Sports Group
Brooks was drafted in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he played his entire 14-season professional career. The 11-time Pro Bowl selection, nine-time All-Pro and 2002 Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year is widely considered one of the best linebackers in NFL history. He also earned a Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers and is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Before the NFL, Brooks played at Florida State, where he was a three-time first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection, a two-time first-team consensus All-American and a member of the 1993 Seminoles national championship team.
He is the founder of Derrick Brooks Charities and has been recognized numerous times for his community endeavors. He has been the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, the Bart Starr Award, the Byron "Whizzer" White Award and the JB Award through the NFL Players Association. In the Tampa community, Brooks has received the Citizen of the Year award from the Tampa Sports Club, the Lee Roy Selmon Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tampa Sports Commission, a Community Hero Award from the Tampa Bay Lightning, a Community Champion Award from the Boys and Girls Clubs, and a WrestleMania 37 Community Champion Award.
In 2024, Brooks was awarded the keys to the city in his hometown, Pensacola, Florida, with Jan. 13 being declared Derrick Brooks Day. Currently, he is executive vice president of corporate and community development for Vinik Sports Group.
Thaddeus Bullard
President and Chair, Bullard Family Foundation
Bullard's life story redefines resilience, generosity and the power of community. Known globally as WWE legend Titus O'Neil, Bullard entered this world under circumstances that would have defeated most. Born and raised in poverty, he faced ridicule as a child and was told he would not live to see 16.
With the support of teachers, mentors and a community that chose to believe in him, he transformed his life. A standout high school football recruit, he graduated from Florida and went on to achieve international fame as a WWE superstar and global ambassador. Yet his most profound victories happened outside the ring. In 2018, Bullard founded the Bullard Family Foundation to help change the generational narrative of underserved communities, just as others had done for him. He has also raised money for scholarships and for nonprofit organizations such as United Way, Susan G. Komen and the Special Olympics.
Through his credo, "exposure leads to expansion," he has opened doors of opportunity for countless children, creating a legacy rooted in love, service and empowerment. He has earned widespread recognition for his work, from being named a two-time finalist for the ESPN Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award to being featured on the Ebony Power 100 list. In 2023, he was named Philanthropist of the Year by Tampa Bay Business & Wealth. His impact is felt not only in the Tampa Bay area but across the world. Bullard's greatest life title, however, is that of a proud father to three beautiful children — TJ, Titus
and Leah. A Mega Dad of the Year honoree, he celebrates fatherhood in his second book, "Wrestling With Fatherhood — My Championship Journey to My Greatest Title: Dad." Bullard leads a life of service and believes in the power of one moment to change a life.
Jane Castor
Mayor, City of Tampa
Castor, the 59th mayor of the city of Tampa, embodies a legacy of dedicated service and unwavering commitment to her hometown. A lifelong Tampa resident, she graduated from Chamberlain High School and the University of Tampa, where she was a basketball and volleyball scholarship recipient and Hall of Famer.
Her journey in public service began as an officer for the Tampa Police Department. She eventually rose through the ranks to become Tampa's first female chief of police in 2009. She served six years as chief, pursuing progressive law enforcement strategies, reorganizing the department and reducing major crimes by 70% citywide. In 2019, Tampa residents elected her as mayor, and she immediately spearheaded ambitious initiatives through the establishment of the Transforming Tampa's Tomorrow advisory teams. These teams created road maps to address the city's most pressing issues, including transportation, affordable housing, workforce development, resident services, and sustainability and resilience.
Castor's administration is implementing the city's most ambitious infrastructure initiative in generations, undertaking the challenge of rebuilding Tampa's aging water and wastewater systems. The Progressive Infrastructure Plan to Ensure Sustainability, a pioneering $3 billion program known as PIPES, underscores her unwavering commitment to enhancing Tampa's essential infrastructure.
Castor's tenure has been marked by significant accomplishments, including securing more than $90 million in federal and state funding for vital transportation and mobility enhancements. Furthermore, her administration has established Tampa's inaugural sustainability and resilience officer position and the first Climate Action and Equity Plan for the city, demonstrating a proactive approach to environmental stewardship.
Overwhelmingly reelected in 2023, Castor remains resolute in her mission to transform Tampa's tomorrow, placing an emphasis on improving residents' quality of life through the enrichment of city parks and the celebration of art. She is often seen around town with beloved office dog Alcaldesa, which means mayor in Spanish. Beyond her mayoral duties,
Castor is a proud Seminole Heights resident who enjoys spending time with her family, fishing and cheering on Tampa Bay sports teams.
Gwen Myers
Commissioner, Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, District 3
Myers is a native and lifelong resident of Hillsborough County. She was elected to the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners in November 2020 and represents District 3. She currently serves as the chaplain of the board and has long been an advocate for improving transportation, affordable housing and health care in the county. Myers also has championed the county's construction of an African American Arts and Cultural Center.
In addition to her duties as a county commissioner, she chairs the Affordable Housing Advisory Board, the Environmental Protection Commission, the Hillsborough/Pinellas Workforce Development Consortium and the Transportation Disadvantaged Coordinating Board. She also serves on the Children's Board of Hillsborough County, the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County, the Florida State Fair Authority, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority Board and the Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization Board. The civic activist was also a member of Mayor Jane Castor's African American Advisory Council, the Hillsborough County Health Care Advisory Board and the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, among others. Myers uses the theme "It's About the People." She is an advocate for individuals in her community, presenting awards and commendations to residents in the county for their unwavering commitment to the area.
Myers is a Florida A&M graduate. She was honored last year by the school's National Alumni Association at its annual convention. The honor celebrated alumni who represent success in business, education, health care, public service and community service.
Barbara Sparks-McGlinchy
Former Senior Associate Athletics Director and Interim Director of Athletics, University of South Florida
Sparks-McGlinchy was a member of the South Florida athletics department for 26 years, where her responsibilities evolved from business manager when she began at the school to senior associate athletics director when she retired.
She managed several internal departments and had administrative supervision of nine of the athletics teams at South Florida. She also served as the school's senior woman administrator, with oversight for Title IX compliance.
Sparks-McGlinchy created community involvement opportunities for South Florida student-athletes, which included playing adaptive sports with the patients at Shriners Children's Hospital. Additionally, she provided leadership on several committees, including the NCAA's Business/Finance Cabinet, as a member of its Marketing Committee. She also served on the Strategic Planning Committee for Conference USA and was chair of the Conference USA Senior Woman Administrators. When South Florida joined the Big East Conference, she served on the Championships and Competitions Committee and the Men's Soccer Committee. For 16 years, she represented South Florida on the State of Florida Council on Equity in Athletics, chairing the Finance Committee. After a year of retirement, she returned to the workforce as the executive director for the Greater Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce.
Sparks-McGlinchy credits her parents as her role models when it comes to community involvement. The South Florida alum remains active, serving on the boards of the university's Women in Leadership and Philanthropy, where she mentors students; the Sports Club of Tampa Bay, where she was the first female president; and the St. Vincent de Paul Joe Latina Center, where the pantry provides food to an average of 100 families per week.
Men's Final Four Legends and Legacy Award Recipients
Juan G. Ayala
Director, Military and Veteran Affairs Department, City of San Antonio
Ayala is a retired major general who served 36 years in the United States Marine Corps. He is currently director of the Military and Veteran Affairs Department for the city of San Antonio.
Ayala's military service also includes four combat tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Other past military assignments include coordinating humanitarian assistance programs in 50 countries throughout Africa, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Bloc; serving as the chief of staff at United States Southern Command; supporting humanitarian relief operations after the Haiti earthquake of 2010; supporting Haitian/Cuban refugee operations; and coordinating civilian law enforcement counterdrug efforts. Before his retirement, Ayala commanded all 24 Marine Corps installations worldwide and was selected to lead the Department of Defense's 2015 Warrior Games, assisting the nation's wounded, ill and injured warriors in their recuperative efforts.
Ayala's military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with "V" Combat Distinguishing Device, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (four stars) and the Combat Action Ribbon. He is also the recipient of the Excellence in Military Service Award from the League of Latin American Citizens, the Heroes of Military Medicine Award from the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, and the Latina Style Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award.
He currently serves on the Texas governor's Advisory Council on Cultural Affairs and is a visiting instructor at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He is an avid cyclist and hiker who has completed the 500-mile El Camino de Santiago Walk in France/Spain. Ayala earned degrees from Campbell, the U.S. Naval War College and UTEP.
Susan Blackwood
Executive Director, San Antonio Sports, 1996-2013
Blackwood was the executive director of San Antonio Sports from 1996 to 2013. During her tenure, she transformed the nonprofit organization, growing its annual budget from $125,000 to $3.4 million, with more than 60% dedicated to funding programs helping children establish healthy lifestyle choices. Thanks in large part to her decades of experience in sports management and high-level contacts throughout the amateur and professional sports world, San Antonio continues to host some of the nation's most prestigious sporting events. From NCAA Men's and Women's Final Fours to NCAA volleyball championships to Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathons, Blackwood's efforts continue showcasing San Antonio and placing the city's dateline on sports pages around the world. Under her leadership, San Antonio Sports has led legislative efforts and secured state funding through the Texas Event Trust Funds Program. At the time of her retirement, the incremental tax on major events generated more than $18.4 million in rebates to the city of San Antonio.
From 1997 to 2013, Blackwood taught sports management at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her work did not stop with her retirement. After stepping down, Blackwood undertook a massive fundraising effort for TeamSA, raising more than $750,000 for the San Antonio Sports endowment, benefiting San Antonio children and families through programs and college scholarships. Before joining San Antonio Sports, she was a key member of the USA Basketball board of directors, serving as vice president for women's basketball, as well as other leadership positions on various committees.
Blackwood is a major force on the local and national sports scene and a valued asset to the city of San Antonio, Bexar County and the state of Texas. Her 2017 induction into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame is recognition of her many contributions and accomplishments.
Darryl Byrd
Chief Growth and Strategy Officer, Perfected Claims, and Managing Principal, ULTRAte Strategy and Advisors
Byrd is chief growth and strategy officer for Perfected Claims — a firm that leverages technology and people power to provide client acquisition, management and settlement support to thousands of clients on behalf of some of the nation's top mass tort litigators. Byrd is also founder and managing partner of ULTRAte Strategy and Advisors, a management consulting firm based in San Antonio that helps clients establish clear corporate/organizational vision, set strategic focus, and design and energize the governance and operational leadership structure to execute efforts.
ULTRAte, through Byrd's direction, also advises chief executives, board leaders and senior executives on how to navigate challenging business issues, while also keeping perspective and focus during difficult times and in chaotic environments. The industries and clients to which Byrd provides his expertise include philanthropy, health care/medicine, higher education, technology, real estate, sports and entertainment, hospitality, and the nonprofit sector and its leaders. Byrd has led the strategic and operational efforts of one of the nation's most ambitious and complex real estate redevelopments, has co-founded and led a groundbreaking nonprofit organization, and has facilitated the long-term visioning and strategic planning for corporate and nonprofit boards. He speaks nationally in vision setting, strategy, public engagement and leadership. He is the former CEO and managing director of the Pearl in San Antonio. He also co-chaired the successful $850 million San Antonio Bond Program in 2017 and designed the largest infrastructure bond investment in downtown San Antonio history. Byrd is a current board officer of the McNay Art Museum. Byrd, who received his bachelor's degree from Hampton and his master's degree at Clemson, lists his "why" in his life and work as "we all need someone to believe in and fight for us."
Jane Macon
Partner, Bracewell LLP
For over 50 years, Macon has made an indelible mark on San Antonio, leaving a legacy of impact. As the first female city attorney, she served San Antonio to ensure its south side was able to procure land to expand Texas A&M-San Antonio. Macon is a champion for San Antonio. Her philanthropic generosity is well known, and she has supported causes ranging from parks and museums to children. She raised thousands of dollars annually for After-School All-Stars and Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas. Immediately after the Uvalde shooting in May 2022, Macon corralled community leaders to begin fundraising to support families and locals affected by the horrific tragedy. She also ensured an expansion of her After-School All-Stars chapter. A force to be reckoned with, she is a connector and supporter of women and people of color, advocating tirelessly for their rights. Macon launched the Texas chapter of the influential International Women's Forum, serving as president, and she continues to lead the local chapter to this day. Along the way, she met Muriel Siebert, the first woman to hold a seat on the New York Stock Exchange, which later led to work with the Siebert Financial Corp.
Many credit Macon for helping grow San Antonio and consider her to be a highly accomplished woman who defers recognition to those around her. She is considered a huge advocate for the city, in addition to other entities, such as the Alamodome, the River Walk and the Spurs. She is known for working with key community, city, state and national officials to keep the city and community thriving.
Marion Thomas
CEO and Executive Director, Blessed Angels Community Center
Thomas is the founder and CEO of Blessed Angels Community Center, Blessed Angels Senior Center, Blessed Angels Senior Dance and Fitness Studio, and Blessed Angels Home Delivery Service. Blessed Angels is an emergency food pantry that is committed to helping citizens in need. Blessed Angels Community Center was founded in 2014, and as of December 2024, the organization has served over 2.3 million senior citizens, children, homeless people, veterans, evacuees and families in need with hundreds of thousands of pounds of groceries, diapers, toiletries, medical supplies, heaters, fans, blankets, pet food, school supplies, gift cards, toys, COVID-19 supplies and other essential items. Blessed Angels donated over $2.5 million in hardship funding to Uvalde families at Robb Elementary School and awards over $10,000 in scholarships each year to support the educational pursuits of underserved students.
Blessed Angels Senior Center is a nutritional site that has helped close to 1,000 senior citizens lead active, independent and engaged lives. Seniors get a midday meal, exercise, nutrition, wellness, educational classes, computer classes, arts and crafts, bingo, dance classes and more. The senior center also has a free grocery delivery service and offers a mini grocery store. Blessed Angels partners with numerous departments and agencies for the betterment of the senior community.
Thomas is a philanthropist, entrepreneur and humanitarian. Her deepest passions are fighting hunger and helping seniors. A native of San Antonio, Thomas lives by theologian John Wesley's motto: "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."
