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Hal Urban was born in San Francisco and grew up in the northern California town of Redding. He went to college on an academic/athletic scholarship, attending the University of San Francisco, where he made the Dean's Honor Roll every semester, played Division I basketball, was a student body officer, and president of his fraternity.
Urban continued his education at USF, earning a California teaching credential, a Master's degree in history, and a Doctorate in education. He did post-doctoral work at Stanford University in the Psychology of Peak Performance.
He was a teacher for thirty-five years at three levels: full time in high school, part time in community college, and at his alma mater, the University of San Francisco. He won numerous awards at each level, including the Character Center's National Educator of the Year award in 1999. He was also awarded the Lifelong Learning Award and the Most Supportive Professor award at the university. He was Teacher of the Year twice at his high school and served as a Mentor Teacher five times in his school district.
Dr. Urban has been on the speaking circuit since 1995. He has traveled more than a million miles, and has made more than 800 presentations in thirty-five states and in five foreign countries. One of his presentations was a keynote address in the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. He speaks to teachers at all grade levels, students of all ages, and parents. He has keynoted at several state and national conferences. In addition, he speaks to people in business, health care, service organizations, and places of worship.
He has written three books, all published by Simon & Schuster:
Life's Greatest Lessons: 20 Things That Matter
This book was originally self-published. Urban sold more than 80,000 copies out of his garage. Writer's Digest selected it as National Inspirational Book of the Year. Since selling to Simon & Schuster in January 2003, the book has sold more than a quarter million copies.
Positive Words, Powerful Results: Simple Ways to Honor, Affirm, and Celebrate Life
This book was published in May, 2004, and has sold more than 100,000 copies.
Choices That Change Lives: 15 Ways to Find More Meaning, Purpose, and Joy
It will be released in January, 2006.
In October, 2005, Hal was presented with the Sanford N. McDonnell Lifetime Achievement Award in Character Education at the Character Education Partnership annual conference in Atlanta.
Urban raised three sons as a single father, and now lives in Redwood City, California with his wife Cathy. A former college athlete and marathon runner, he remains devoted to physical fitness and athletics, and plays competitive softball at the senior level. He has visited 48 states and 67 countries on five continents. His other interests are photography, gardening, and his family, especially his two granddaughters.