Author, physician Ben Carson to speak Feb. 22 in Sikeston

SIKESTON, Mo. -- It was education and determination that took Ben Carson from a life of poverty to becoming one of the nation's most renowned physicians. In February, Carson will be in Sikeston to talk about his life and the country he says made it possible.

A group of Southeast Missouri residents has combined its efforts to bring Carson, an author, speaker and former director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, to speak Feb. 22 at the Sikeston Field House. Organizers expect to fill all of the approximately 3,300 seats.

"It is a true success story ... going from rags to riches by using your mind to get there," organizer Charlotte York said about Carson. "His mother was a domestic, there was no father in the home, but he beat all odds because he worked at it."

Carson's presentation, "Celebrate America," will explore what is good about America and where its citizens have gone astray, York said.

Although Carson recently gained notoriety for his conservative views after speeches at the National Prayer Breakfast, the Conservative Political Action Conference and the Values Voter Summit, York and Ellen Brandom, who also is part of the group bringing Carson to the area, emphasized this is not a political gathering. Both agreed the speaker will bring a common-sense approach to challenges individuals face daily.

"I think he appeals to a lot of people," Brandom said. "He is going to talk about tackling issues at the forefront of America right now: education, health care, capitalism and more. He will encourage us to understand what was done to make America great through hard work, high principles ... education. I think he will be very motivational."

As part of the presentation, the group is arranging for Carson to meet informally with a group of 75 area young people before his speech. Also, it is providing tickets for another 75 young people to hear his message that evening.

"I think he will inspire young people to realize their potential," Brandom said.

'Gifted Hands'

In his life story, "Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story," later made into a movie starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Carson describes his early struggles with education. His mother, with only a third-grade education, challenged Carson and his brother to strive for excellence.

Carson accepted the challenge and began excelling in school, eventually earning a medical degree. He became a full professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and he directed pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center for more than a quarter of a century.

Some of his career highlights include the first separation of Siamese twins joined at the back of the head in 1987, the first successful separation of type-2 vertical Siamese twins in 1997 in South Africa, and the first successful placement of an intrauterine shunt for a hydrocephalic twin.

Carson holds more than 60 honorary doctorate degrees. He sits on the board of directors of numerous organizations, including Kellogg Co., Costco Wholesale Corp. and the Academy of Achievement, and is an emeritus fellow of the Yale Corp., the governing body of Yale University.

In 2001, Carson was named by CNN and Time magazine as one of the nation's 20 foremost physicians and scientists. That same year, he was selected by the Library of Congress as one of 89 "Living Legends" on the occasion of its 200th anniversary.

He is the recipient of the 2006 Spingarn Medal, which is the highest honor bestowed by the NAACP. In 2008, Carson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the land.

Brandom said because of Carson's involvement in pediatric medicine, the committee hopes to enable him to tour the Kenny Rogers Children's Center during his time in Sikeston. "It is such a bright star in this part of the world and we would like to share that with him," she said.

As Carson has used his career to encourage others to excel at education, Brandom and York said the Feb. 22 speech will do the same. Proceeds from the Sikeston event will go to the Bootheel Scholarship Committee in partnership with The Restoration Center, a community outreach program based in Jackson and working to expand into the Sikeston community.

Doors for Carson's speech will open at 4:30 p.m. There will be no admission after 5:30 p.m., with Carson scheduled to speak from 6 to 6:45 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session from 6:45 to 7 p.m. A book-signing is scheduled from 7 to 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $25 each. Also, organizers are seeking sponsors for the event, at levels of $100, $500, $1,000 and $5,000 or more.

For ticket or sponsorship information, visit DrBenCarsonEvent.com or call 573-318-6253.

Pertinent address:

200 Pine St., Sikeston, Mo.