Library Volunteer Who Helped Young Shaquille O’Nea With Homework Still Serving Community at 80
Earl Wilson, a 78-year-old janitor at Chicago Memorial Hospital, moved slowly down the corridor, mop in hand, his body aching but his heart full of quiet dignity. He’d worked here eight years since losing his beloved wife Mary. The empty apartment they once shared echoed painfully, and work was his solace.
On a crisp morning, whispers of excitement filled the halls. “Shaquille O’Neal is coming today!” nurses buzzed eagerly, their voices drifting into Earl’s ears. His heart skipped—Shaquille O’Neal, his neighbor decades ago in Wilmington, North Carolina, was now an international legend.
At home that night, Earl pulled out an old shoebox containing yellowed photos. One picture stood out clearly: a young O’Neal family alongside Earl and Mary. Earl smiled softly, tracing young Shaquille’s face. Memories surged—the tiny boy chasing a stray ball into his yard, wide-eyed and shy. Earl had taught him to fix bicycle chains, how to persevere through failure, lessons Shaquille had soaked up with quiet determination.
The following day, Earl worked near the hospital entrance as Shaquille O’Neal arrived amid cameras and cheers. Earl’s pulse quickened. What if Shaquille didn’t remember him? Embarrassed, Earl retreated into routine, quietly mopping a distant corridor.
But fate intervened. Shaquille passed by, surrounded by security and hospital administrators. He paused, glancing curiously at the elderly janitor. Earl’s heart nearly stopped. “Mr. Earl?” a young patient named Timmy suddenly called out from his wheelchair. “You told us you knew Shaquille O’Neal!”
Shaquille halted sharply, turning slowly toward Earl. Recognition flickered in Shaquille’s eyes, growing into a broad, familiar smile. “Mr. Earl? From Wilmington?”
“Hello, Shaquille,” Earl managed softly, eyes shining.
“I can’t believe it,” Shaquille said warmly, approaching Earl with genuine affection. “It’s been over fifty years. How’ve you been?”
Their conversation was brief amidst the hospital commotion, but Shaquille took Earl’s number, promising to reconnect. Days later, Earl’s phone rang. “Mr. Wilson,” a voice said politely, “Shaquille O’Neal invites you to dinner this Friday.”
That Friday evening, Earl stepped nervously into a luxurious restaurant, heart pounding. Shaquille welcomed him warmly, ushering him to their table. Over dinner, they reminisced joyfully about Wilmington, Shaquille’s childhood, and Earl’s humble garage. Yet Shaquille grew solemn as their conversation deepened.
“Earl,” Shaquille began gently, “I recently discovered my father’s records from 1970. There was a loan you gave him—a considerable amount back then.”
Earl shifted uncomfortably, memories returning vividly. “Your father faced tough times. Friends help each other. He repaid every cent.”
Shaquille shook his head, deeply moved. “But it was more than that. My parents couldn’t afford Coach Brown’s basketball camp at LSU that summer. That loan changed everything. It put me on the path to becoming who I am.”
“Joseph was proud,” Earl explained quietly. “He asked me to keep it between us.”
“Well,” Shaquille smiled warmly, “life has come full circle. I’ve seen how hard you’re still working at your age. I want to offer you a position managing my dealership’s service department—your knowledge would be invaluable.”
Speechless, Earl felt tears gather. “I don’t want charity, Shaquille.”
“This isn’t charity,” Shaquille assured firmly. “This is paying respect to a man who helped shape my life.”
Weeks later, Earl began his new role. Younger mechanics admired his depth of experience, eagerly learning from him. Earl’s aches eased, replaced by renewed purpose and pride.
Shaquille visited often, their friendship rekindled. One day, he invited Earl to his lavish home, presenting him with a basketball signed by the 2000 championship Lakers team. An inscription read: “To Earl Wilson, who taught me it’s not about how many times you fail, but never stopping until you get it right.”
Earl felt immense gratitude, reflecting on how his simple act of kindness decades ago had rippled forward profoundly.
Soon after, Shaquille called again, offering Earl an even greater role: overseeing service operations across multiple dealerships. Earl hesitated, but encouragement from his sons convinced him.
Under Earl’s leadership, customer satisfaction soared, and his story gained attention. Media highlighted the inspiring bond between the legendary Shaquille O’Neal and the humble man who influenced his early life.
One warm afternoon at a charity basketball game, Earl sat proudly beside Shaquille. A reporter approached, and Shaquille placed a reassuring hand on Earl’s shoulder. “This is Earl Wilson. He taught me the most important lesson of my life,” Shaquille declared.
“And what was that, Mr. O’Neal?” asked the reporter.
Shaquille smiled deeply at Earl. “It’s not about how many times you fail; it’s about never stopping until you get it right.”
Leaving the arena later, Shaquille turned thoughtfully to Earl. “We should visit Wilmington again sometime, Earl.”
“I’d like that,” Earl replied warmly.
Walking together, they shared comfortable silence. Earl thought of Mary, smiling softly to himself. Life had come beautifully full circle.
“You know,” Shaquille said quietly, “you helped me find my way.”
Earl paused, touched deeply. “We helped each other.”
Shaquille nodded warmly, placing his hand briefly on Earl’s shoulder. “That’s not just friendship—that’s family.”
Earl Wilson, once a forgotten janitor, now stood respected, seen, cherished. In that moment, he understood fully: small acts of kindness echo endlessly, creating ripples of love and gratitude, binding hearts and destinies forever.
Shaquille O’Neal Motivates Students of St. Philip’s School and Community Center
Aristotle was once credited (not proven) with the statement, “Excellence is not a singular act, it’s a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.” From this belief, Shaquille O’Neal has dubbed himself “The Big Aristotle.” O’Neal, through The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, creates pathways for underserved youth to help them achieve their full potential. The Foundation works to instill hope and bring about change in communities, collectively shaping a brighter future for our children.
O’Neal resounded this Aristotelian philosophy as he spoke to over 1200 attendees at the St. Philip’s Destiny Award Luncheon. Dallas Doing Good had the opportunity to ask O’Neal about his passion for helping and instilling hope in children.
Shaquille O’Neal, also known as “The Big Aristotle.”
Growing up in a strict household, your stepfather, Sergeant Phillip Arthur Harrison, played an instrumental part in helping you develop into the NBA Hall of Famer you are today. You have publicly thanked him for his discipline and commitment to basketball. What is your advice to kids today who help them realize their dreams?
Growing up we always talked about practicing good habits. Excellence is a habit. You are what you repeatedly do. I used to say to the mirror, ‘I’m the best big man. I’m this. I’m that. I just wanted to put that out there – and in people’s minds. That’s what I tell children all the time: ‘You are what you say you are. Don’t let other people say who you are.’”
In 2019, you established The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation which provides resources and opportunities for the underserved youth of our country. How did your own experiences growing up help you envision the mission for your Foundation?
Hard work was the rule, not the exception in my home growing up. Even later, when I would bring home a lot of money, my mom would just put her hand on my shoulder and say, ‘Baby, you promised to go back to school.’ Mom and dad always taught me to have something to fall back on in case I blew out my knee or had some other career-ending injury. That’s the mission of The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation. We give kids pathways to not only help them achieve their dreams, but to make sure they are just as passionate about their education.
You have raised millions of dollars for charity and served as a national spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. How did the Boys & Girls Clubs of America shape your life as a youth?
Shaquille O’Neal and former Dallas Mavericks coach, Avery Johnson.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America saved my life. Growing up in the projects of Newark, New Jersey, there were a lot of negative temptations: drugs, gangs, just a lot of bad things. Mom and dad both worked hard to support the family. They would tell me to go play at the Boys & Girls Club. They would say, “If you really want to do this NBA thing, go play basketball with the other kids, but don’t leave this building until we come pick you up.’” There, I learned how to become a people person and team player. How to be a nice guy and a protector. I learned how to be a leader at the Boys & Girls Club.
You serve on the Board of Directors of Communities in Schools (CIS) and your Foundation has teamed up with local organizations including CIS on Shaq-To-School, an initiative that has donated $10 million worth of school supplies across the country. What impact do you hope these supplies have on underserved youth in our country/state?
Millions of kids across this country show up to school on the first day already behind because they can’t afford the supplies they need to learn. Our resolution is to change that. Education is an important foundation for success. We want to get kids these supplies so they can concentrate on their studies. Children today have enough distractions. We don’t want pencils or crayons to be on that list.
Your Foundation works to instill hope and bring about change in communities. How do you hope these changes will create a brighter future for our children?
O’Neal invited students of St. Philip’s to the stage to ask him questions.
Our work focuses on kids and making their lives better. But we also work to involve and improve the community where these kids grow up: better access to education, improved athletic areas, clothing, meals and even toys for the holidays. These kids need to know what safety feels like in a community that cares about them; cares that they are practicing good habits. If we can all do that, this would be a better world.
