Eric Maddox speaks during welcome back assembly
Posted on 08/12/2019
Eric Maddox speaks on stage(SPS) - Shaw Auditorium was the place to be Monday morning as teachers across the district returned for their first day of the 2019-2020 school year.

After a three-month break, school will resume on Aug. 15.

Teachers and Sapulpa Public Schools staff were greeted with breakfast, coffee from the Junior High/High School Commons new coffee bar, new t-shirts, and a visit from 1990 Sapulpa High School graduate Eric Maddox.

Maddox is the interrogator who, during a five-month tour in Iraq in 2003, tracked down Saddam Hussein.

MEDIA COVERAGE OF MADDOX'S VISIT
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Maddox wove his story of conducting more than 300 interrogations and how he took perceived failures during those interviews and moved them forward. He talked about how important teachers are and how our students are the future.

"I don't know if you understand how valuable you are," Maddox told the teachers. "Give these kids you, and they'll come to you. They'll love you. They may never tell you, but you're changing the world." 

Maddox recalled his days as a student and how his teachers treated him. How they empowered him and made him feel loved.

"There's no greater honor than what you all do," Maddox said.

Watch part of Maddox's address in the video player below.