As a Professional in the Engineering Field, I have had my fair share of challenges both in my career and general lived experiences. Having endured said trials, I found myself yearning to affect a positive difference – like that I witnessed throughout my life by way of my late father William Matthew DeBarr Jr. aka “Coach” DeBarr.   Tasked with providing oversite and staff supervision on numerous multi-million-dollar projects across the United States, I have had the satisfaction of a great salary and successfully meeting deadlines on monumental projects.  Content within my chosen career path, I, however, found myself lacking complete fulfilment with other aspects of my life. 

     As such I began to explore the origins of that seemingly growing void.  Upon deep retrospection, I discovered a tremendous longing to positively impact the lives of others -the “how” was my dilemma….   After a process of profound reflection, I began listening to and watching a number of self-help and personal improvement radio and television broad casts.  None of these mediums resolved the quandary.  I explored even deeper, ultimately reminiscing on my adolescent years and some of the pastimes I enjoyed in my youth…. 


      After considerable thought and having eliminated sports because I wanted to reach a wider array of individuals of both genders, playing cards rushed my memory – more specifically- SPADES! Spades - a recognized competitive game of intellectual banter and cognitive diligence involves critical thinking in a number of domains, to include strategically calculating points with a partner based upon assessment of thirteen (13) individual cards received during a challenge round - stirred a gratifying sense of nostalgia. It is   a fun-filled activity individuals of nearly any age or gender can participate in regardless of socio-economic background.   Thus, in March 2007, I embarked on the personal endeavor of establishing a platform to implement my developed vision:  World Association of Spades (WAOS)!