Local business leader Ron Autrey kicked off his second career as an author recently with a book-signing event that raised $50,000 for K9s for Warriors.
Held Nov. 13 at Marsh Landing Country Club, the cocktail reception featured “Voice of the Jaguars” Brian Sexton as emcee and enabled guests to have Autrey — the former CEO of Miller Electric — sign copies of his first book, “Ron’s World: All the Times I Died.” But the focus was squarely on the event’s philanthropic component, as guests heard firsthand from K9s for Warriors staff and veterans aided by the Nocatee-based nonprofit.
“Your presence here helps improve — and in some cases saves — the lives of brave service members who’ve given so much in defense of this country,” said Autrey, a U.S. Army veteran. “It is truly an honor to have them here with us tonight.” Veteran Charlie Davis was in K9s for Warriors’ first class of veterans to receive a service dog. At the time, he said, he had come close to dying by suicide.
“If it wasn’t for K9s for Warriors, I wouldn’t be standing here talking to you today,” said Davis, with service dog Lady Cameo by his side. “I not only got my life back, I got my family back, I got my friends back.”
K9s for Warriors Chief Revenue Officer Lindsay Grayson noted that K9s for Warriors operates the world’s largest shelter-to-service dog kennel in the world. In doing so, it aims to stop the veteran suicide epidemic; currently, approximately 20 veterans die by suicide each day.
“We want to put an end to veteran suicide,” Grayson said. “And folks like Mr. Autrey are helping to make that possible.”
“Ron’s World”
Autrey described “Ron’s World” as a “historical memoir” that recounts key moments in his life within the context of the world events happening at the time.
“In the book, I reflect on the juxtaposition between our advanced quality of life and our incredible propensity and capacity to destroy it,” Autrey said. “This perplexing reality of modern life serves as a backdrop for the book, and I break it up by sharing some of my own close brushes with death.” Autrey also shared a preview of his next book, “Farnsworth’s Secret War” — a novel that follows 10 years in the life of a fictional West Point graduate and Army intelligence officer. Guests enjoyed a reading of excerpts from both books by former Northwest Airlines pilot and professional voiceover artist Pamela Almand before a signed copy of one of Autrey’s manuscripts was auctioned off to benefit K9s for Warriors.
“If Tom Clancy were alive,” Sexton said, “he’d be worried about Ron Autrey.”
“Ron’s World: All the Times I Died” is available at amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.
