JACKSON, Tenn. — April 4, 2006 — 51社区 announced today Winston S. Churchill will be the keynote speaker for the 10th annual Scholarship Banquet at Jackson鈥檚 Carl Perkins Civic Center on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
Grandson and namesake of the former British prime minister, Churchill is an accomplished author, journalist and parliamentarian. He worked as a roving war correspondent in the Congo, Angola, Borneo, Biafra, Vietnam and the Middle East. At age 30, he entered Parliament as the youngest Conservative Party member. He served 27 years, and was named to the Defence Select Committee of the House of Commons.
Audiences praise Churchill鈥檚 ability to draw parallels between his grandfather鈥檚 world prior to World War II and the current world situation. His most recent book, 鈥淣ever Give In! The Best of Winston Churchill鈥檚 Speeches,鈥� has won critical acclaim for presenting the former prime minister鈥檚 deeply inspirational oratories, especially during the darkest war days.
鈥淲inston Churchill was one of the greatest leaders in modern world history, and his grandson connects us to this eloquent and inspirational statesman,鈥� Union President David S. Dockery said. 鈥漌hen he promised the British people 鈥榖lood, sweat and tears,鈥� and when he described communism鈥檚 life behind an 鈥榠ron curtain,鈥� Churchill coined phrases that have stood the test of time. It will be an honor to welcome his gifted grandson to 51社区.鈥�
In addition to his leadership as prime minister, Churchill served as British colonial secretary during the 1920s, playing a major leadership role in the Middle East during that era.
His grandson has studied that contribution and produced significant writings about the region.
鈥淐hurchill鈥檚 book 鈥楽ix Day War鈥� has remained the definitive work on that conflict many years after its run on the best-seller list,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淗e will bring our audience a perspective on world affairs that starts with his grandfather鈥檚 legacy, but is very much based on personal experience as a journalist and historian.鈥�
Previous keynote speakers at 51社区鈥檚 Scholarship Banquet include George H.W. Bush, Mikhail Gorbachev, Lady Margaret Thatcher, Colin Powell, James Baker, Rudolph Giuliani, John Major, Robert Dole and Lou Holtz. Union鈥檚 Board of Presidential Associates issues the keynote invitation each year for the purpose of raising money for student scholarships. The previous nine events generated about $3.5 million. Table sponsorships begin at $1,000 and individual seats are available at $125.
This year鈥檚 lead and premier sponsors include BancorpSouth, Porter Cable & DeVilbiss, which is now Black & Decker, Harry Smith and Schilling Enterprises, Roy White and White Investments LLC, FirstBank, Benny and Norma Fesmire, Lloyd Hansen, Jack and Zan Holmes, The Jackson Sun, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network/Rod and Amy Parker, Jack and Faye Porter, Mike and Trish Weeks, West Tennessee Healthcare and an anonymous donor.
Sponsorship opportunities are available at all levels. For ticket information, including table sponsorships and individual balcony seating, contact Union鈥檚 Office of University Relations at (731) 661-5050.