MONTGOMERY, Ala. — More than 640 sports legends, politicians, and businessmen attended the Jimmy Rane Foundation’s annual fundraiser in Montgomery Thursday evening to hear Taya Kyle, the widow of American Sniper Chris Kyle, speak about her husband’s legacy and her own road to healing after he was murdered by a man he was trying to help.
Among the celebrities at the event were Auburn football head coach Gus Malzhan, former Auburn players and Heisman Trophy winners Bo Jackson and Cam Newton, former University of Alabama football head coach Gene Stallings, and former Alabama standout and current Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome.
Started 15 years ago, the Jimmy Rane Foundation awards college scholarships to deserving young men and women. While there was only one recipient in the foundation’s first year, 28 students from across the country were given full scholarships to the school of their choice in 2015.
“This is a really neat thing for me to be involved in,” Mrs. Kyle said during her keynote speech. “It fits right along with Chris and I know he would have been a great friend [to the foundation] and I know he would have had such a great time talking to all of you [sports stars].”
After sharing a few stories of working with Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper during the production of the American Sniper movie, Kyle tearfully shared the events of the day when her husband was killed.
In February 2013, Chris Kyle and his friend, Chad Littlefield, went to help council a former marine who claimed he was suffering from PTSD. After arriving at a gun range where they hoped to help the man work through his pain, the man murdered Kyle and Littlefield while their guns were still in their holsters.
It was discovered by psychiatrists during the trial that the man did not suffer from PTSD, and a jury found him guilty of murder earlier this year.
Throughout her speech, Mrs. Kyle showed grace through grief, and humor despite tragic circumstances.
During her keynote, Kyle emphasized the importance of reaching a hand out to those truly suffering from PTSD after serving their country.
“There are a lot of people who legitimately have PTSD, and they’re not murderers,” she said. “Sometimes the biggest problem is they hurt themselves. I hope none of you are ever concerned about helping a veteran who has PTSD.”
Before the banquet, Taya Kyle signed copies of her newly-released memoir “American Wife: A Memoir of Love, War, Faith, and Renewal” for attendees. The line wrapped all the way down the hall of the event area, but Mrs. Kyle refused to leave her signing station until every single person who wanted an autograph made it to her.
Speaking to reporters, Kyle said she hoped to be a role model for other families making it through a deployment, or recovering from the loss of a loved one.
“I think that sometimes you can be an example of what to do and what not to do, and I think most of the time I’m an example of what not to do,” Mrs. Kyle said. “I think I’ve been inspired by Chris and his ability to be raw and genuine and admit flaws and let it be whatever it is. That’s something I’m trying to do too is just be real … That way ends up being very healing with people.”
Jimmy Rane underscored Mrs. Kyle’s strength, adding that he asked her to be the speaker after watching American Sniper.
“I think she is a great role model,” he said. “This country desperately needs role models like Taya. There’s enough people who get a lot attention that are not stirring out children and our future in the direction to be successful. I greatly admire and respect who she is, what she’s been through and what she’s done with it.”
Friday, the celebrities and many others will convene for a charity golf tournament at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Capitol Hill course in Prattville to conclude the foundation’s annual fundraiser.
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— Elizabeth BeShears (@LizEBeesh) January 21, 2015
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