December 2017, late at night, having trouble going to sleep, Senator Wicker comes on the news talking about why he supported the money on Obama care. I had enough who was running against this man. He, at the time, was unopposed. Dam, I thought, hell, I will run. I called my Grandson Josh; hey Papa, everything alright? Yea, I was hoping you could get my the papers from Jackson to run against senator wicker.

The following day he called me around 8 am; papa had a strange dream you called me to get papers to run for the US Senate. No dream,get it done. We laughed; he asked what the hell brought this on. You have never run for any office. No one is running against him, and he is too liberal for Mississippi.

My first mistake was I decided not to tell my wife. I figured no need to hear her opinion on why I should not be running. If I was only to drop out when or if someone else comes into the race, I would leave. But to my great misunderstanding, women seem to me they can smell trouble, and of course, she liked being the last to know. I tried to explain my reasoning, weeks of the cold shoulder.

I am now all signed up with no idea in the world how I am going to lead this parade. I start writing and realize I haven’t written a sentence for years. My secretary did all the writing; I did nothing but sign the papers. I was never good at English; writing and spelling were never my cups of tea. I was attacked like a rabid dog for my writing skills. It scared me a little that if my writing skills were so bad, how would my speech skills go over. My speech skills kept people on the edge of their chairs and zoned in.

My first invited speech was by Dan Carr, the President of the republican club in Gulfport. I went to a couple of Republican clubs uninvited. They gave me 5 minutes of speaking time after 4 hours of driving. My unsolicited time in Columbus< Mississippi, was laughable. Someone told many people there I was wearing blue jeans and a t-shirt. So when I arrived in a suit and tie, no one had any idea I was the candidate. I started talking to this older couple when they told me we had a treat coming today; some idiot down in Hancock county is running against Senator Wicker; they say he always wears a T-shirt and blue jeans. I told him I would love to see that, and we laughed. Hang around; they say he is coming.

On my arrival in Columbus, to make the speech had to stop at the door and pay for lunch for my group. She told me I didn’t have to pay because I was one of the speakers. I thanked her, paid for the rest, and went and sat down. I noticed, looking around, about 60 people or so, a good gathering. The woman that was the head of this Republican women club had already let me know by her actions she was not happy with me being there. Now I look up and see this poor woman I paid the money to for all my people headed my way. Mr. Boyanton, I have been informed that you get no free lunch. You must pay; I need twenty-something dollars, please. No problem, I didn’t ask for it to be free to start with. I open my wallet. All I have is hundred dollar bills, and I hand her one; you don’t have anything smaller, no mam, give me a minute to get change. At this time, everyone in the place was trying to figure out if I was trying to get a free lunch. Once the money was counted back, at least that part was over.

For the Columbus speech, my grandson Josh was working with me, and I had made three or four mini speaches for the 5 minutes I had coming to me, but none suited the moment. When the republican club lady asked me to give my speech and to remember the time limit, with a smile!! The old couple’s wife that had talked with me, in the beginning, made a very loud gasp, she was shocked, I believe or embarrassed I had never seen them after. I made an awe-inspiring speech. Trent Kelly was the main speaker. I stayed and listened to him. I taught myself quickly that in a 5-minute speech no time to tell stories.

The difference between talking at the Columbus club and the Amory club in Monroe county was day and night. My speech caught fire, and everyone there loved my conservative stances except the woman that was the head of the women’s clubs across Mississippi, she let me know in no uncertain words she was a Wicker lady, and I was not her choice.