It was his late wife’s encounter with an angry homeless man that changed his life forever, an author said as he discussed his book based on the lives of these two people.Ron Hall, co-author of “Same Kind of Different As Me,” maintained an ambiance of applause and appraisal as he read excerpts from his biography to a group of students, faculty and staff at the Brown-Lupton Student Center on Tuesday.

It was in front of the very Student Center that Hall, a 1974 MBA graduate, met Deborah Short, whom he married in 1969, he said.

The book is centered around Deborah, a 1967 graduate, and his friend Denver, who was once homeless, Hall said.

Denver Moore, co-author of the biography, was born in 1937 in the plantations of Louisiana, Hall said.

Moore never received a formal education and, as a young teenage boy, he was once roped and dragged by three men when he was helping a white woman change the tires, Hall said

During 15 years of his life, Hall said, he had made millions of dollars but he had no time to think about the less privileged – until he met Moore.

As Moore was igniting a brawl one day, it was Hall’s wife who faced him and calmed him down. She asked her husband to be friends with Moore because she believed she had seen Moore in her dreams and that the encounter was a message from God.

Being careful as to not to give too many details, Hall said he wants his book to help students understand how to journey through life and overcome circumstances.

Moore received the philanthropist of the year award for his work in and around Fort Worth last year, Hall said.

Moore, who spoke for about five minutes toward the end of the event, said he thanked God for his mercy.

“It was God that allowed me to go through what I went through in this life,” Moore said.

The book is ranked No. 2 in the biography section of Amazon, Hall said.

Hall said the biography will soon be turned into a movie.

Chuck Dunning, assistant director of TCU Transitions, said life sometimes puts people in situations where they can feel some sort of inspiration.

“I hope his story of inspiration can reach all of us and particularly those people that are looking for ways to be inspired,” Dunning said. “I was just immensely moved by how each of them heard that call, felt that inspiration in their own ways and answered that even when it was not easy.”

Cyndi Walsh, assistant dean of Student Development Services, said Hall was invited to inspire students to talk about the importance of thinking beyond their professions and careers. Students need to broaden their horizons and believe that they can make a difference, Walsh said.

The event was part of the “R-Rated” theme for the semester, which intends to discuss rights, responsibilities and respect via competitions, lectures and conversations.