Speaking at the Wayne State Debate Banquet May 4, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , trackback
4 May 2008, Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Dearborn, Michigan:
I was honored to serve as keynote speaker for Wayne State University’s 74th Annual Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha (DSR-TKA) Awards Banquet. DSR-TKA is the national honor society for debate and speech activities. I participated in debate and speech activities as an undergraduate at Wayne State from 1970-74, and then coached the team from 1975-1979. It was great to see so many alumni at the banquet and to meet the current students who had a great year.
After dinner speaking is not my best suit, but I came through and delivered a speech that seemed to entertain and delight the audience. I talked about the coming of age of debate and speech in our contemporary entertainment media–movies such as The Great Debaters, Listen to Me, Rocket Science, Debating Robert Lee, and Thanks to Gravity, all movies depicting debate teams. I shared some of my debate stories and told the audience how important my involvement in the Wayne State speech and debate program was to all that I have accomplished since leaving the program 34 years ago. I spoke of the tremendous support and mentoring given to me by George Ziegelmueller, the legendary debate coach and director of forensics who gave so much to me and remains a true friend. Finally, I urged the audience to continue to support the Wayne State program and to do all they can to establish and support debate and speech programs in our middle schools, high schools, and universities.
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