“In a way, the firehouse was Welles’s first team. There would be many others, with different uniforms on different fields. He poured himself into all of them, hearing the same mantras whatever the season. Effort counts. Attitude matters. Hard work wins.”

Welles loves teams, and he loves working with and for other people in organizations. His most impassioned activities revolve around teamwork and contribution. Though the firehouse is a kind of clubhouse that in many ways resembles a sports team, its purpose is not about winning but about saving; it makes more serious demands on Welles, who gravitates toward its high purpose. 

“From the time he began to play sports, Welles epitomized the try-hard guy, the striver, the kid wringing out whatever ability he has through practice and will. A streak of fearlessness was useful too, as an available substitute for physical genius.”

Welles exemplifies the adage that hard work is worth more than raw talent. Welles is small in stature but big in spirit, and his dedicated effort overcomes physical limitations to make him an asset on any team. His fearlessness will stand him in good stead when the 9/11 disaster requires that he walk calmly through danger to help others. 

“Eleven. Where does that age fall? Both feet still planted firmly in the grass of boyhood, but starting to peer over the fence, to pull gently away from the absolute rule of home, to examine its laws—deciding when to apply and what to obey, and which to amend or ignore.”

Adolescence challenges everyone, and Welles is no exception. His occasional youthful high spirits are tempered by his love for his family, his great respect for his father’s leadership, and his overarching desire to help others. The energy of teen life finds a rare focus in Welles’s generous spirit.