Goodbye to an idol and role model-Ron Springs
Today I learned of sad news out of Dallas TX. Former Cowboys running back Ron Springs passed away yesterday after a 4 year coma. I'm not much of a football fan so I'll explain why this news is sad for me.
I grew up in what back then was a small city, Williamsburg VA. One thing williamsburg did well in those days was produce NFL Players. Or maybe I should say my old alma mater Lafayette High School did it well. There was a point when three young men occupied the gridiron at the same time. Who could have know that all three would end up in the NFL.
Lawrence Taylor of the NY Giants, Mel Grey of the Philidelphia Eagles and Ron Springs of the Dallas Cowboys.
These three men belonged to us. Those of us who walked those halls identified with them. Then were role models to all of us and we sat in classes with siblings or cousins of these NFL Superstars. They were something big from our tiny little town and we all claimed them by pride. Pride in our town and pride in our school.
I can still remember Ron walking across the stage in the auditorium on the day we had a special assembly to retire his jersey. And when he walked out on that stage it was not so big time celebrity, it was one of us. Ron was a Lafayette Ram, an alumni of our school. And he gave us something that day. Someone we could look up to as an example of success. We felt like we weren't some dinky little school in a back water town, he gave us pride in who we were.
Today I found out that one of those bright lights, one of those icons of my youth is gone. He will be missed not just by his family but by those of us he belonged to as a fellow Ram. Rest in Peace Ron, you will always be an idol to us.
I grew up in what back then was a small city, Williamsburg VA. One thing williamsburg did well in those days was produce NFL Players. Or maybe I should say my old alma mater Lafayette High School did it well. There was a point when three young men occupied the gridiron at the same time. Who could have know that all three would end up in the NFL.
Lawrence Taylor of the NY Giants, Mel Grey of the Philidelphia Eagles and Ron Springs of the Dallas Cowboys.
These three men belonged to us. Those of us who walked those halls identified with them. Then were role models to all of us and we sat in classes with siblings or cousins of these NFL Superstars. They were something big from our tiny little town and we all claimed them by pride. Pride in our town and pride in our school.
I can still remember Ron walking across the stage in the auditorium on the day we had a special assembly to retire his jersey. And when he walked out on that stage it was not so big time celebrity, it was one of us. Ron was a Lafayette Ram, an alumni of our school. And he gave us something that day. Someone we could look up to as an example of success. We felt like we weren't some dinky little school in a back water town, he gave us pride in who we were.
Today I found out that one of those bright lights, one of those icons of my youth is gone. He will be missed not just by his family but by those of us he belonged to as a fellow Ram. Rest in Peace Ron, you will always be an idol to us.
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Comments (3)
Joseph Botelho
15
Working on one project at a time.
Yea that is so special to have that on display, very hard on friends, family, teammates and all his fans....
Cheryl Baumgartner
12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
Yes he did. As far as I know his jersey is still there on display in the trophy case at the school
Joseph Botelho
15
Working on one project at a time.
Yea sad day, l watched him play, he flare, style and most of heart a true teammate. He did what it took to be a winner, and now he is gone.........he was a true leader on some bad and good Cowboy teams.....he got the job done....