My eldest sister Mary Delle was affectionately called “Myrt” by friends and family. We all had nicknames. Older brother, George had the moniker “Buzz.”

Mine was “Yogi,” because I had an amazing resemblance to New York Yankee catcher Yogi Berra. I also looked a lot like the guy on Mad Magazine, Alfred E. Newman.

I MENTION MYRT this week because she was my inspiration growing up. Mary, as she prefers to be called today, was the oldest of the 11 Aun children, all of whom are still alive today. She was, however my parent’s 4th born. Mama Alice lost her first 3 before giving birth to Mary.

She was more than a “big sister” to me. Mary was a surrogate mother a mentor and the reason I began writing and speaking

A great athlete who played basketball at Lexington High School, she was as good as any in her day. She was also a cheerleader and a student body leader in every respect. I pursued football, baseball and track because Mary was a great a basketball player.

She was President of her class and a trailblazer, not just in our home but also in our community. I admired her and looked up to her. I ran for the House of Representatives in South Carolina in 1980, thanks in part to the inspiration of Mary.

SHE WAS EDITOR of our high school yearbook and was the reason I got interested in writing. I subsequently became the Sports Editor of LHS school newspaper.

George, a/k/a “Buzz” was the Art Editor. I suspect we both pursued journalistic interests because Mary led the way. The speed of the leader is usually the speed of the pack.

I later became the Sports Editor at the Lexington Dispatch-News. Today, “Behind the Mike” appears in 1,500 weekly newspapers and periodicals in 41 countries.

I would not be in the speaking business today were it not for Mary. She was a participant and winner of the school Oratorical Speech Contest and was Miss DAR. Naturally, I had to compete as well.

That led to me winning the school competition and the SC Oratorical Speech Contests. Thanks Mary! I would not have been interested had you not led the way. Leaders show by doing.

I WENT ON to win the World Championship of Public Speaking for Toastmasters International in 1978. Would I have even considered competing had it not been for the seed planted by my mentor and big sister, Mary? I doubt it.

With 11 kids, parents could only give just so much individual time. Mary became a surrogate mother to many of my siblings. It broke my heart when she decided to pursue the Catholic Convent. It was like I had lost a mother instead of gaining another kind of “sister.”

Mary is no longer a nun, but she remains an inspiration to me. She holds 2 Masters’ Degrees and was a Senior Professor with DeVry University in New Brunswick, NJ, where she has taught for over a quarter century. She also has a marriage and family counseling practice.

MARY IS MY “shero,” a word that I always use that fits her perfectly. She was and is my mentor. I have learned 2 things about a mentor. They will tell you what you are doing right in life, but they also love you enough to tell you what you need to change. Thank you, Mary, my “shero.”

Michael Aun is a co-author of Maverick Entrepreneurs’ Million Dollar Strategies” Riverbanks Press: (803)-331-6695 .