Military veteran keynote speaker

Retired Lt. Gen. William “Jerry” Boykin is this year’s keynote speaker at the Stillwater Christian School fifth annual banquet fundraiser.

The three-star general will share a story of faith and patriotism March 7 at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Trade Center.

The event is titled, “For Such A Time As This, An Evening with Lt. General William G. ‘Jerry’ Boykin.”

“We are thrilled to offer our community another opportunity to experience a world-class speaker whose message is not just representative of the mission of Stillwater Christian School, but is critical for the time in which we live,” Stillwater Superintendent Daniel Makowski said in a press release.

Boykin is notable for his 36 years of military service in the U.S. Army, and his outspoken — sometimes controversial — religious and political views.

The retired lieutenant played major roles in American military operations such as the failed 1980 mission to rescue American hostages held in Iran after the Islamic revolution. In the early ’90s he accepted the surrender of Manuel Noriega and headed the chase to capture Colombian drug czar Pablo Escobar in 1992.

Boykin ultimately served as the Commander of the U.S. Army Special Forces Command and as the Commandant of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, N.C.

He went on to serve two years with the CIA and was a member of the National Security Policy Coordinating Committee for Terrorism and Coordinating Sub-Group for Homeland Security.

More recently, he has authored a memoir, “Never Surrender: A Soldier’s Journey to the Crossroads of Faith and Freedom,” and two novels “Danger Close” and “Kiloton Threat.”

Boykin currently serves as executive vice president for the Family Research Council in Washington D.C. An ordained minister, Boykin is founder and president of Kingdom Warriors, a nonprofit ministry that encourages Christians to be bold in their faith.

Stillwater Development Director Craig Hunnicutt said faith, values and patriotism are a central part of Boykin’s speeches.

“Through his life experience in the military he seems to have a pretty good perspective on world climate and how it’s affecting our lives in America,” Hunnicutt said. “He has confidence in not being afraid to say things he believes in. He has fallen under criticism for that, but he speaks from a position of faith first of all.”

Individual banquet tickets are available at $75 per person. Cost is $500 for a table of eight. Sponsorship tables start at $2,500. Doors open at 6 p.m. Sponsor tables include tickets to a small and private reception with Boykin prior to the banquet and autographed copies of “Never Surrender: A Soldier’s Journey to the Crossroads of Faith and Freedom,” priority table placement, and recognition at the event. A limited number of seats at the head table with Boykin are still available.

People interested in purchasing a table or tickets should contact Hunnicutt at 752-4400 or chunnicutt@scscougars.org.

The annual banquet is one of the largest fundraisers for the school. Last year’s banquet featuring football quarterback Tim Tebow, was a record year raising roughly $200,000 for the school Hunnicutt said.

“We’ve taken this event on as an offering to the community by bringing worthwhile speakers to the valley,” Hunnicutt said.