Tragedy struck as Jeff Webb, a prominent figure in the business and conservative communities, passed away following a tragic accident on the pickleball court. The 76-year-old Texan, known for his significant influence on young leaders through his work with Turning Point USA, sustained a severe head injury two weeks prior to his death, according to Cheer Daily.
Webb, often referred to as the pioneer of modern cheerleading, was closely associated with Charlie Kirk and his organization, Turning Point USA. His passing marks the end of two difficult weeks on life support following the unfortunate accident.
In honor of Webb’s legacy, Turning Point USA shared a heartfelt video tribute, celebrating his contributions and expressing their deep sense of loss. The organization described Webb as “a dear friend” to them and to Kirk, emphasizing his lasting impact on their community.
“He will be greatly missed,” the tribute concluded, highlighting the void left by Webb’s untimely departure.
Gage Skidmore / Flickr
Webb’s relationship with Kirk began when Kirk was just 24 years old. Webb quickly became a guiding influence, even envisioning Kirk as a potential presidential candidate. The loss of such an influential figure has been felt deeply within the circles he inspired and led.
Webb was an early mentor to Kirk, whom he met when Kirk was just 24 — and later hailed his friend as a potential future president before his assassination last year.
“He had amazing drive. I was overwhelmed with his maturity, his intelligence. He just had so many incredible leadership qualities,” Webb told One America News Network, recalling his early encounters with the activist who also became an ally of President Trump.
Following Kirk’s death, Webb told Real America’s Voice he “had it all — charisma, faith, respect for everyone” before going on to say the US “may have a lost a future president.”
Webb described Kirk as a “giant of the MAGA movement” — saying his message resonated with students who held conservative beliefs but couldn’t relate to the Republican establishment.
“They were isolated and Charlie’s message and his just charisma gave them definition,” he said.
“It gave them hope. It made them feel that they were okay and what they stood for were good things.
“And then eventually as he created Turning Point and the conferences, he was able to bring those young people from around the country together and they discovered other people felt like they did, and they had friends all over the country who shared this belief.”
Webb attended the ceremony where Kirk was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Away from politics, Webb, dubbed the “father of modern cheerleading,” founded Varsity Spirit at the age of just 24 in 1974.
He called for cheer routines to feature more acrobatic and athletic elements, according to the New York Times, and helped bring competitions to televisions across the US.
Varsity staffers even nicknamed the private jet Webb traveled on “Cheer Force One” and a spokesperson said he “played a pivotal role in shaping cheerleading as it exists today.”
