Ben Carson may be a 2016 presidential candidate, but how much do you really know about the retired neurosurgeon? Despite the fact that Carson has spent a considerable amount of time in the spotlight and under the scrutiny of the public eye, there are still some things that many people don’t know. With that in mind, here we present our list of 15 things you probably didn’t know about Ben Carson. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
Number Fifteen: He Is a Serious Sharpshooter. As a member of the ROTC in high school, Carson earned medals in both drills and riflery. In fact, Carson was given the opportunity to eat with the top U.S. commander in Vietnam because of his skills.
Number Fourteen: He Was Awarded the Spingarn Medal. Carson received the Spingarn Medal, which is the highest honor given by the NAACP, in 2006. Carson was given the medal in recognition of his contributions to education and academia.
Number Thirteen: He Is Very Charitable. Carson began the Carson Scholars Fund with his wife, Candy, in 1994. The fund was designed to reward academically gifted children who were also involved in their communities.
Number Twelve: He Can Act. It’s true! Carson has his own IMDB page, and he acted as himself in a movie about conjoined twins called Stuck on You. He also used the film as a way to raise money for the Carson Scholars Fund.
Number Eleven: He Is a Living Legend. Like, officially. Carson was named a Living Legend in 2001 by the Library of Congress for his contributions to society.
Number Ten: He Also Has the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Carson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008 from George W. Bush. The medal is the highest honor that can be given to a civilian on behalf of the president.
Number Nine: He Survived Cancer. Carson was told he had prostate cancer in 2002, but he fought hard and was able to beat it. He told a reporter that he had faith in “the Lord, [who] can heal anything.” Stay tuned for part two of our list of 15 things you didn’t know about Ben Carson, coming soon!