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Bill Montgomery

Born

William Thomas Montgomery


May 29, 1940
DiedJuly 28, 2020 (aged 80)
Occupations
  • Businessman
  • activist
OrganizationsTurning Point USA
Known forCharlie Kirk's mentor and co-founder of Turning Point USA
MovementConservatism

William Thomas Montgomery (May 29, 1940 – July 28, 2020) was an American businessman and conservative activist.[1] He co-founded the conservative political organization Turning Point USA with Charlie Kirk; Montgomery became Kirk's mentor and worked behind the scenes during the organization's early formation. He died of complications from COVID-19.

Montgomery was born on May 29, 1940, in Lincoln, Nebraska, and grew up in Peoria, Illinois. He served in the United States Air Force Reserve.[2]

Career and activism

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Montgomery spent his working career in marketing.[3] After retiring, he founded Turning Point USA with Charlie Kirk in 2012. He was on Turning Point's board and its secretary and treasurer until spring 2019.[4] Montgomery met Kirk when the latter was 18, after hearing Kirk speak at a small college.[4] Montgomery has been described as Kirk's mentor, including by advising him to start Turning Point USA rather than attend college. Montgomery also provided the initial funding for the group.[5][4]

He died of complications from COVID-19 on July 28, 2020, at age 80.[6] Charlie Kirk called him a "dear friend" whose contributions shaped a generation of conservative activists. TPUSA honored Montgomery as an "iconic" figure whose "steadfast devotion" built the organization.[7]

  1. ^ "Behind Turning Point USA's funding boom – with half of it coming from 10 anonymous donors". NBC News. July 13, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  2. ^ "Obituary: William Thomas Montgomery". Neptune Cremation Service. Neptune Society. July 28, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  3. ^ Nelson, Rebecca (March 25, 2015). "The 21-Year-Old Becoming a Major Player in Conservative Politics". The Atlantic. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Pearson, Jake; Spies, Mike (July 21, 2020). "At This Trump-Favored Charity, Financial Reporting Is Questionable and Insiders Are Cashing In". ProPublica. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  5. ^ Cortellessa, Eric (September 10, 2025). "The Killing of Charlie Kirk and the Political Violence Haunting America". Time. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  6. ^ Brest, Mike (July 30, 2020). "Turning Point USA co-founder Bill Montgomery dies after contracting coronavirus". Colorado Politics. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  7. ^ "Turning Point USA co-founder dies of coronavirus-related complications". POLITICO. July 29, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2025.