Chuck Norris

GREENVILLE, S.C.—Chuck Norris, star of the popular television series “Walker, Texas Ranger,” world-renowned martial arts expert, teacher, commentator and best-selling author, will speak at Furman University Monday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in McAlister Auditorium.

Norris will talk about his life and career, as well as his concerns about the direction of the United States as outlined in his new bestselling book, “Black Belt Patriotism.” The event is free and open to the public.

A question-and-answer session and book signing will follow the lecture.  Norris’ appearance at Furman is co-sponsored by the university’s College Republicans and Young America’s Foundation.

One of the most popular actors in the world, Norris starred in the CBS television series, Walker, Texas Ranger, for eight full seasons. The program continues to air daily in the U.S. and in more than 80 countries worldwide, with an estimated global audience of one billion viewers. He has also starred in films such as Delta Force, Missing in Action, Lone Wolf McQuade and Sidekicks.

Norris’ popularity led to his being the subject of countless fictional “facts” created by fans and circulated on the Internet, many of which are endorsed and enjoyed by the man himself (i.e., They wanted to put Chuck Norris on Mt. Rushmore, but the granite wasn’t tough enough for his beard.).

Norris is the author of three New York Times bestsellers, including autobiographical Against All Odds (2004) and his recently released book of social commentary, Black Belt Patriotism: How to Reawaken America.

A former Airman First Class in the U.S. Air Force and a Veteran Foundation’s Veteran of the Year Award recipient, Norris has spent hundreds of hours visiting soldiers at military instillations and in America’s veteran hospitals.  In 2007, he was made an honorary member of the U.S. Marine Corps in recognition of two recent visits to troops in Iraq.

Among his more rewarding accomplishments is the creation of “KICKSTART,” a character-building, life-skills program that has graduated more than 50,000 youngsters since its inception in 1990.

Norris’s first international acclaim came as a six-time undefeated World Professional Middle Weight Karate Champion. He is the first man from the Western Hemisphere in the more than 4,500 years of Tae Kwon Do to be awarded an eight-degree Black Belt Grand Master ranking.

For more information, call Furman’s News and Media Relations office at 864-294-3107.

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9-22-08