It’s not every day that you can claim without reservation that someone is almost entirely responsible for a cultural achievement. But you can absolutely make that claim about Charles James Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, which is, without question, the most successful grassroots youth political organization in the conservative movement in history.

It was a shocking thing then, to see this 31-year-old, tall, athletic, cheerful, and, at times, goofy-looking character in the prime of his life and career be gunned down in broad daylight while doing what he did best: debating and arguing with people he disagreed with on the campus quad of Utah Valley University.