Jan Scruggs

Jan is a person who truly accomplished a mission impossible. It took two decades to build the Lincoln Memorial and nearly forty years to complete the Washington Monument. Jan, however, got America's most visited Memorial built in just three years - without using one penny of government money! He is the founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, The Wall.

Jan Scruggs grew up in Bowie, Maryland. After graduating from high school he served with the U.S. Army's 199th Light Infantry Brigade. He was wounded and decorated for gallantry in Vietnam. After returning home he obtained a Master's Degree in counseling from American University in Washington, D.C. While doing graduate school research on Vietnam veterans, Scruggs had the idea to create a national memorial inscribed with the names of all Americans who gave their lives in the Vietnam War.

In 1979, after Congress took no action, Scruggs began the project himself. Using $2,800 of his own money, he launched the effort in May of 1979. Despite controversy and numerous setbacks, over eight million dollars was raised and many political hurdles overcome so that the Memorial was built and dedicated in November, 1982.

Jan has appeared on CBS's Sixty Minutes, Nightline, Good Morning America, and numerous other national and local television and radio shows, as well as guest hosting for Mutual Broadcasting's national Larry King Show. Jan's book about the Memorial titled To Heal a Nation was made into an NBC Movie of the Week, which aired in May 1988. Jan has also written articles on a wide variety of topics for the Washington Post and other publications. He has received many awards including the Jefferson Award, the Americanism Award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and has been selected as one of the ten Outstanding Young Americans from the US Jaycees.

Scruggs is one of America's most successful motivational speakers. His audiences include AT&T, IBM, the prestigious Million Dollar Roundtable. With a canny use of humor and quotations from prestigious Americans ranging from George Washington to Thomas Edison, he has thrilled hundreds of audiences since 1988 with his simple message - Courage is Life's Great Equalizer. The presentation by Jan Scruggs is one that will long be remembered.

Here are some quotes from his audiences:

I have been to our conventions for ten years ... but you are the first speaker to receive a standing ovation... American Institute for Steel Construction

Our capacity audience was truly treated to an unforgettable, thought provoking experience that will be long remembered. State Mutual Companies

Congratulations on a superb presentation on the MDRT Main Platform. It was meaningful and memorable. Million Dollar Roundtable

Courage ... makes the difference. Your Commencement Message for our graduates will serve them well as lifelong inspiration. Beaver County College

You have been our forth speaker ... Your talk was of the greatest benefit to our cadets of the four ... New Mexico Military Institute

I have never heard applause last as long as it did for you that afternoon. You have powerful message indeed. Washington Society of Association Executives

As you explained in your talk, having courage and a sense of purpose lets you overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.. GTE

The standing ovation by our 800 plus attendees said it all, a truly unforgettable message. Moore Business Forms

Our conference delegate opinion surveys confirmed what we believed. you were a big hit ... The "standing O's" told the story. The Prudential