Friends of Palmetto Boys State (FOBS) will conduct the fourth annual “Run to Remember: CPT David Hortman 5k run/walk” on June 6th in conjunction with the annual Palmetto Boys State week at Anderson University.
The run will give participants from across the state an opportunity to join with South Carolina’s emerging young leaders in an event that will raise scholarship funds for young people and honor a fallen PBS staff member who was killed while serving his country.
Palmetto Boys State Staff member US Army Captain David Hortman was a native of Spartanburg, SC. He attended Palmetto Boys State in 1998, and graduated from Byrnes High School in 1999. He was a 2004 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point.
A highly decorated and gifted Army aviator with three deployments, Capt. Hortman and fellow aviator Chief Warrant Officer 3 Steven Redd were killed on August 8th, 2011 when their helicopter crashed while conducting a training mission at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Both were attached to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) at Ft. Campbell, KY. Capt. Hortman was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Palmetto Boys State Staff Secretary Treasurer Rev. Sinclair Lewis recalled David’s years with the program and said, “I will remember the depths of his commitment. Whatever he committed himself to – he gave his all. I am very grateful that Boys State was one of David’s commitments.”
The run will take place beginning at 7:30am beginning at the Abney Gymnasium at Anderson University. The 5K event proceeds will benefit FOBS, which provides scholarships for rising seniors in high school to attend Palmetto Boys State, which is held on the Anderson campus. FOBS is a 501c3 organization. The event website can be found at www.davesrun.com or visit www.fobs.palmettoboysstate.com for information on Friends of Boys State.