Former Navy SEAL and New York Times Best Seller Chris Kyle to be awarded as distinguished alumnus

By K’Leigh Bedingfield –

The Tarleton Alumni Association will hold a Distinguished Alumni Gala on Saturday, Jan. 26 to honor former Tarleton students, faculty and staff. One of the honored guests is former Navy SEAL and New York Times Best Seller, Chris Kyle.

Courtesy Photo by Harper Collins

Celebrated for his service, Kyle is also known as the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. He served as a Navy SEAL from 1999 to 2009 and is recorded to have 160 confirmed kills. Kyle was deployed to Iraq four times and fought in Ramadi, Fallujah and Sadr City.

Last January, he published an autobiography called “American Sniper,” which became a #1 New York Times best-seller. Kyle’s book sheds light on his life as a soldier and raises awareness for the many men and women who fought for our country.

Kyle is now the president of his own company, Craft International in Dallas, which provides sniper and battle tactics training for active duty military and law enforcement personnel, and also trains civilians on weapon awareness.

Kyle attended Tarleton in the early 1990s, and will be honored as an Outstanding Young Alumnus at the gala. Along with Kyle, Dr. Kenneth Wyatt, ’46 and Ms. Samantha Morrow, ’87 will be honored as Distinguished Alumni, and Dr. Brad Chilton and Mr. Jerry Graham, ’69 will be honored as Distinguished Faculty and Staff.

Kyle was contacted about the gala but could not be reached for comment.