Terry Fossum

Terry Fossum
Born
Alma materTexas A&M University
OccupationsActor, producer, and businessperson
Websiteterrylfossum.com

Terry Fossum is an American actor, writer, public speaker, businessperson and philanthropist. He is best known as the winner of the 2017 reality television series Kicking and Screaming.[1] Fossum has written several books including the #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, The Oxcart Technique: Blueprint for Personal Success[2] and he is recognized as “one of 30 most influential TEDx Talks of the Century” with his TEDx Talk ranking number two in the world.[3]

Biography

Fossum was born in Mission, Texas and raised in McAllen, Texas as one of three brothers. He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America rising to position of an Eagle Scout. Fossum is a pioneer student at Memorial High School graduating in 1982. He studied for a degree in mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University[4][5][6][7] while serving in the Corps of Cadets before serving in the U.S Air Force where he rose to the rank of captain.[8] He was Officer of the Year for the Fairchild Air Force Base[9] and was the Executive Officer for a Group of Nuclear B-52 Bombers.[10]

After his military service, Fossum went into business founding a sales company and the Terry L. Fossum Learning Center in Rwanda and the Terry L. Fossum Scholarships for Underprivileged Youth in McAllen, Texas; providing agricultural training for Malawi, Africa in 2018.[11]

Television

In 2017, Fossum appeared on Fox reality television series Kicking and Screaming, a show that paired survival experts with “wilderness impaired partners”.[12] He and his partner Natalie Casanova[13] won the competition, splitting the $500,000 grand prize.[14][15] This then led to several million dollars in donations for the Scouts following the series airing.[16] Fossum produced and starred in the film Role Prey which centered on the problem of human trafficking.[17]

In 2021, Fossum received the Best Supporting Actor and Fan Favorite award at the Christian Film Festival for his role in the movie Agape.[16] He is the host of podcast The Comeback Chronicles.[18]

Fossum has continued to be involved in the Boy Scouts of America, first as a scoutmaster, and eventually as the vice president for programs for the Washington State's Inland Northwest Council.[6]

Books

Fossum has written several books including the #1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller: The Oxcart Technique: Blueprint for Personal Success and Never Miss a Goal Again.[2][18]

References

  1. ^ Report, Staff (2017-03-09). "McAllen native cast in 'Survivor'-like reality show". MyRGV.com. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  2. ^ a b "Bestselling Books Week Ended August 27". The Wall Street Journal. 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  3. ^ "Top Speakers + Talks To Watch Out For in 2026 - The Entrepreneur Times". 2026-03-05. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  4. ^ "Fossum '86 Wins 'Kicking And Screaming,' Takes Home $250k". Texas A&M Today. May 15, 2017.
  5. ^ "The Bay Area Review May 4, 2018 by The Bay Area Review - Issuu". issuu.com. 2018-05-04. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  6. ^ a b Star, JOSH JANNEY | The Winchester (26 January 2018). "Philanthropist Fossum speaks at 2018 Friends of Scouting Dinner". The Winchester Star.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Peshek, Sam (2017-05-15). "Fossum '86 Wins 'Kicking And Screaming,' Takes Home $250k". Texas A&M Today. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  8. ^ "Productivity Smarts 060 - The Oxcart Technique with Terry L Fossum". Apple Podcasts (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  9. ^ "Community Leaders To Support Scouts At Annual Luncheon". www.chattanoogan.com. 2018-02-09. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  10. ^ "Local Scoutmaster Terry Fossum nearing finish line on "Kicking and Screaming" reality TV show | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  11. ^ "The Bay Area Review May 4, 2018 by The Bay Area Review - Issuu". issuu.com. 2018-05-04. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  12. ^ "McAllen native cast in 'Survivor'-like reality show premiering Thursday on Fox". Brownsville Herald. Archived from the original on 2019-12-31. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
  13. ^ "Local Scoutmaster Terry Fossum nearing finish line on "Kicking and Screaming" reality TV show". AP NEWS. 2017-04-15. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  14. ^ "Spokane Scoutmaster wins $250,000 grand prize on survivalist reality TV show | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com.
  15. ^ "Spokane man splits top prize in FOX reality show 'Kicking and Screaming'". Associated Press. 2017-04-28. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  16. ^ a b "Spokane Valley's Terry Fossum, winner of 'Kicking and Screaming' reality show, writes best seller | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  17. ^ "Entertainment Spokane! from Ed Clark". www.entertainmentspokane.com. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  18. ^ a b "Terry L. Fossum | The Most Impactful and Visionary Personality to Look for in 2025". 2025-02-06. Retrieved 2026-03-13.