Remembering Neal E. Boyd

"America's Got Talent" winner Neal E. Boyd of Sikeston, Mo., strikes an operatic pose in front of Southeast Missouri State University's Academic Hall in 2005. Boyd is running for a Missouri House seat in the 149th District. (Southeast Missourian file)

Neal E. Boyd (Kit Doyle ~ Southeast Missourian)

Neal Boyd, of Sikeston, shown on a public visit to Sikeston in November 2008 following his "America's Got Talent" win. (ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com)

Neal E. Boyd was the winner of "America's Got Talent" in 2008. He has returned to southeast Missouri on multiple occasions to perform. (Associated Press)

In this image released by NBC, opera singer Neal E. Boyd, an insurance salesman from Sikeston, Mo., performs Oct. 1, 2008, after winning the NBC talent competition "America's Got Talent" in Studio City, Calif. (AP Photo/NBC, Chris Haston)

Friends and family of Neal Boyd Lynda Muench, left, Amy Smith, Ann Costin and Marilyn Grant, all of Sikeston, MO., cheer when Neal Boyd won first place in "America's Got Talent" at a friend's house in Sikeston Wednesday night. (Elizabeth Dodd ~ Southeast Missourian)

Neal E. Boyd signs an autograph on Sunday, October 26, 2008, for Ryan Mitchell of Sikeston, a Southeast Missouri State University student. Boyd, who won "America's Got Talent" Oct. 1, returned to the area for a brief visit over the weekend. (Michelle Felter ~ Standard Democrat)

Neal E. Boyd sings the national anthem in February 2009 at the Show Me Center.

Neal Boyd of Sikeston, Mo., winner of "America's Got Talent," performs in front of a sold-out crowd at the Showdown basketball games Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at the Show Me Center. (ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com)

Sikeston native Neal E. Boyd, who won $1 million on NBC's "America's Got Talent" in 2008, filled Rodgers Theatre with his opera singing Saturday, October 17, 2009. (Paul Davis ~ Daily American Republic)

Neal E. Boyd rides in the homecoming parade for Southeast Missouri State University on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008, on Broadway. Boyd, winner of NBC's "America's Got Talent," was honored with the university's Distinguished Service Award. (Fred Lynch ~ Southeast Missourian)

Neal E. Boyd holds the souvenir coin he flipped before the Homecoming game Oct. 25, 2008, in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch ~ Southeast Missourian)

Fans come out for Cape Central High School's inaugural football game in their new stadium Friday, Sept. 2, 2011. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Neal E. Boyd sings at the Sikeston Field House on Wednesday, June 24, 2009, in a benefit concert for the Kenny Rogers Children's Center. (Michelle Felter/Standard Democrat)

Neal Boyd spoke in front of family and friends at the Clinton Building in Sikeston in November 2008, sponsored by the Sikeston Area of Chamber of Commerce. Boyd received plaques from the City of Sikeston, the Missouri House of Representatives and the Sikeston Chamber of Commerce. (Elizabeth Dodd ~ Southeast Missourian)

Neal E. Boyd, center, a tenor and Sikeston native, speaks about his upcoming CD release and the June 24 benefit concert he will open with Kenny Rogers to raise funds for the Center. Also pictured at the news conference is Steve McPheeters, emcee for the event. (Michelle Felter ~ Standard Democrat)

Neal E. Boyd speaks to students at Cape Christian School on April 19, 2011. Boyd, a former winner of the television program "America's Got Talent," is a Republican candidate for the 149th District of the Missouri House of Representatives. (Adam Vogler ~ Southeast Missourian)

Neal Boyd speaks to the Cape West Rotary Club at the Cape Elks Lodge July 26, 2012. (Submitted photo)

Neal E. Boyd sings "Somewhere" from West Side Story with the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra during a concert in February 2010 at Bedell Performance Hall. Boyd was the guest artist at the sold-out symphonic pops concert. (Fred Lynch)

Neal E. Boyd

Neal E. Boyd