Charles “Peanut” Tillman Talks From The Heart With Students

On Monday, February 6, Charles “Peanut” Tillman visited three San Marcos CISD schools to talk directly with students and to take their questions.

The former NLF player first met with De Zavala Elementary 4^th and 5^th graders and then moved on the Bowie Elementary school where he talked with 5^th graders. Finally, after lunch, Tillman spoke in the Goodnight Middle School gymnasium before a large group of middle school students. 

Tillman talked about his book Middle School Rules that deals with life challenges. He and his wife started the Cornerstone Foundation when their daughter was diagnosed with a heart defect that required a heart transplant. Their charitable contributions have helped thousands of critically ill children and their families.

In response to a student question about what he found difficult when he was in school, Tillman – who was from a military family and moved 13 times while in school—told the De Zavala students that it was the leaving of friends and having to make new friends.

He always felt like a stranger and out of place. He pointed to their school librarian/Information Literacy Specialist, Jennifer Payne, and said that he had met Payne when they were in the second grade.

“My family had just moved to Copperas Cove,” Tillman said. “Ms. Payne was my guide to the new school, showing me around the campus and telling me where everything was. Of course, I had no idea back then that she would be a librarian, but we’ve managed to stay friends all these years.”

He went on to answer many other questions, which dealt with how he felt when his parents were getting a divorce and when his three-month-old daughter was diagnosed with a dangerous heart problem.

Tillman addressed all the questions with honesty and conviction and took the time to speak to individual students who sought him out.

At Bowie Elementary, he shook hands with students and gave autographs. He talked with the middle school students at Goodnight about what type of legacy they would want to carve out for themselves, and being careful about what brands they represent.

Tillman played in the National Football League for 13 years with the Chicago Bears and the Carolina Panthers and is now a FOX Sunday Sports commentator. He was the 2013 winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.