By William Croyle
Enquirer contributor

FLORENCE - Durran and Shaun Alexander grew up as latchkey kids with few frills in a single-parent home here. Their mom, Carol, worked long hours to support them.

"We followed the same line that a lot of kids are following today," Durran said. "We're very blessed today, and we want to give back."

The brothers' $1.8 million bid on the Boone County Community and Recreation Center on Main Street was accepted by the county this week.

They hope to close in October and give the youths in the community a place - and name - to latch on to. They will rename it after Shaun, now a Pro Bowl running back with the Seattle Seahawks.

"I've been blessed with great mentors that have taught me a lot about football, life and who I am," Shaun Alexander said. "I want to provide the same thing to the next generation."

Alexander, 27, started the Shaun Alexander Family Foundation in February 2000, two months before he was drafted by the Seahawks.

He named Durran, 28, the executive director of the three locations - Northern Kentucky, Alabama (Shaun went to college at the University of Alabama), and Seattle.

In four years, they and numerous private donors have teamed up to give hundreds of kids and their families food, Christmas gifts, scholarships and other financial support.

"They have real big hearts for children, especially underprivileged children," said Jackie Shelton, director of Hope Ministries in Florence, which co-sponsors an annual Christmas party with the foundation for more than 150 children.

The brothers - alums of Florence Elementary, R.A. Jones Middle and Boone County High schools - haven't forgotten their roots.

They recently offered to pay $250,000 toward synthetic playing surfaces at the district's three high schools - Boone, Ryle and Conner. They also work closely with Florence Elementary School.

"They've been actively involved with helping families through our Family Resource Center," said Florence principal Charlie Walton. "We have some of the highest at-risk students in the district, and the Alexanders understand that."

Opening his own youth center has been a goal of Shaun Alexander since he started the foundation.

The Boone County Community and Recreation Center used to be the Tri-City YMCA. After the R.C. Durr YMCA opened in Burlington this year, memberships at the Main Street location plummeted from about 1,200 to 25.

It's back up to 200 memberships - and hopes Shaun's name brings in more.

"The name recognition is huge," said the center's director, Brian Rawlings. "I think it can positively affect the kids and will be a big injection into the community at large."

Durran toured the building Tuesday and discussed possible upgrades and renovations with an architect. They would like to expand youth and teen programs and start an after-school program for kids.

"This is going to give kids a chance to not just be part of the building, but to be part of Shaun's life," Durran said. "He's the type who will just show up at the center one day and lounge around on the couches with the kids."

Though Shaun Alexander lives in Kirkland, Wash., with his wife and daughter, he'll be actively involved with the center.

"You will see me there," he said. "There will definitely be programs that I will be hands-on with."

E-mail williamcroyle@yahoo.com