The Haskell Indian Nations University community is mourning the death of a 20-year-old male student who died suddenly after collapsing Friday while playing basketball, acting Haskell president Clyde Peacock said in a statement.
Justin McGee, of Ardmore, Okla., collapsed while playing in a club-sponsored tournament on campus. The university had a memorial service on campus for McGee on Tuesday evening at Haskell Auditorium.
“Justin was an excellent young man, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and a redshirt member of the Haskell men’s basketball team,” Peacock said. “The university wishes to thank everyone at Haskell, especially staff and students, as well as the Lawrence community for their support during this difficult time.”
Funeral services were tentatively scheduled for Friday in Ardmore, according to the university. Haskell officials said McGee would have turned 21 this week.
“The university wishes to extend its sincere condolences to the family, friends and fellow students of Mr. McGee,” Peacock said, “and ask the community’s understanding while Haskell mourns the loss of this very fine young man.”
Comments
John Hamm 6 years, 3 months ago
This happened Friday and the LJ-W covers it on Tuesday! What the heck!?!?! My condolences to the young man's family and friends and entire Haskell community.
KEITHMILES05 6 years, 3 months ago
Exactly! How can this paper ignore such a monumental event?
KEITHMILES05 6 years, 3 months ago
Exactly! How can this paper ignore such a monumental event?
wordsofwisdom 6 years, 3 months ago
This should have been a Breaking News story. If this were a KU student, it would have been covered in detail. As a community member, I am frustrated by the lack of response from LJW. If there is a reason why it wasn't properly covered, you should state what that reason is.
jhawkinsf 6 years, 3 months ago
Condolences to family and friends.
beachmama 6 years, 3 months ago
And the rugby player that died "Thursday"? That was ten days ago Thursday. TEN DAYS? Really?
Irenaku 6 years, 3 months ago
AGREED. Shame on LJW. I would not have even seen this story had I not been scrolling down the web page. Ridiculous! This shoulds absolutely have been front page.
jafs 6 years, 3 months ago
What on earth was the cause of death?
A young, apparently healthy, guy suddenly dies and there's no mention of how/why?
dixie97 6 years, 3 months ago
The rugby player had been injured and was hospitalized for a while. I think she just passed away on Friday. she was not from around here and her injury made the news where she's from.
greenworld 6 years, 3 months ago
Why does is matter cause of death. He's dead. Im sure even if its ruled natural causes or enlarged heart everybody will speculate and come to their own conclusions...drugs whatever. Leave it to everybody to create noise and they will and decide on their own how and why he died. Sometimes people just need to let the dead by dead and remember the person for who they were and what they accomplished in life.
squarepusher 6 years, 3 months ago
With respect to the deceased and his family, LJW shouldn't have left comments open. Just as greenworld stated, "everybody will speculate and come to their own conclusions".
It's not fair to allow LJW that kind of activity on here. They shouldn't even cover it if they don't know the reason, or the ability to post it.
squarepusher 6 years, 3 months ago
To clarify, ANY deceased subject material shouldn't have comments open. If people read the article and knew the individuals, they can contact them privately.
lawdog 6 years, 3 months ago
My daughter said he was a pretty nice guy to everyone, he had made a lot of friends while at Haskell. My prayers go out to to Mr. McGee's family and friends.
lawdog 6 years, 3 months ago
Ardmore —
Services for Justin Dion McGee will be 1 p.m. Friday, April 22, 2011, at First United Methodist Church, Ardmore with Reverend Ricky McGee officiating. Interment will follow in Jehovah Cemetery. Services under the direction of Griffin-Hillcrest Funeral Home.
Justin Dion McGee was born April 19, 1990, at 6:02 a.m., to Kenny and Angela Herbert.
Justin united with the Jehovah Baptist Church at an early age. He was a member of the JBC Youth Choir and served as the church drummer for the JBC Youth and Senior Choirs.
Justin was also a member of the Voices of Faith where he began to play the drums at the age of 10.
Justin attended and graduated from Ardmore City Schools. He was an avid basketball fan and player. At the time of his passing, from this life, Justin was attending Haskell Indian Nations University where he was a member of the HINU men’s basketball team. Justin was known as “Baby Bron-Bron” on the HINU campus. Justin was a very responsible, caring, independent, fun, funny, and always smiling person with a positive attitude. He had a magnetic personality that drew very young children to him and he never turned them away.
On April 15, 2011, at 5:30 p.m., the Lord reached down from the heavens above and picked a rare precious flower.
Justin was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Raymond Wright, Eddie Lee McGee, Clara Reed, and Joseph and Lorene Herbert.
Justin leaves to forever cherish his memory his parents; two brothers, Tylan and Quentin; his maternal grandparents, Kenneth and Pearlie McGee; paternal grandparents, Jerry and Carol Biggers and Oscar and Rhode Ann Herbert; great-grandmothers, Vera Wright and Essie (Frank) Lawson; one maternal great-grandfather, Amos Reed; two maternal uncles, Kenny (Megan) McGee and Brian (Sarah) McGee; four paternal uncles, Anthony Herbert, Degrick Herbert, Derick (Camedra) Peters and Justin (Mandy) Peters; and one aunt, Shantel Pickens Robinson.
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