It has nearly been four years since I transferred to Texas A&M, from a large junior college up in Dallas. Prior to the start of Spring classes, new students had the option of attending what is called “Howdy Camp” — which is basically a three day retreat where you learn some of the traditions at A&M. One of the most significant and dare I say, emotional, times at an otherwise laugh-out-loud party fest (lots of fun & games) was the story of a young man named Timothy Doran Kerlee, Jr.
Five years ago, to the day, the world famous Aggie Bonfire collapsed, killing 12 students and injuring another 27. What Timothy did was nothing short of finest example of what the 12th Man represents: giving the gift of life to save someone else.
Before I go any further, here is the story of the 12th Man tradition:
The tradition of the Twelfth Man was born on the second of January 1922, when an underdog Aggie team was playing Centre College, then the nation’s top ranked team. As the hard fought game wore on, and the Aggies dug deeply into their limited reserves, Coach Dana X. Bible remembered a squad man who was not in uniform. He had been up in the press box helping reporters identify players. His name was E. King Gill, and was a former football player who was only playing basketball. Gill was called from the stands, suited up, and stood ready throughout the rest of the game, which A&M finally won 22-14. When the game ended, E. King Gill was the only man left standing on the sidelines for the Aggies. Gill later said, “I wish I could say that I went in and ran for the winning touchdown, but I did not. I simply stood by in case my team needed me.”This gesture was more than enough for the Aggie Team. Although Gill did not play in the game, he had accepted the call to help his team. He came to be thought of as the Twelfth Man because he stood ready for duty in the event that the eleven men on the gridiron needed assistance. That spirit of readiness for service, desire to support, and enthusiasm helped kindle a flame of devotion among the entire student body; a spirit that has grown vigorously throughout the years. The entire student body at A&M is the Twelfth Man, and they stand during the entire game to show their support. The 12th Man is always in the stands waiting to be called upon if they are needed.
I am not at all religious nor do I believe there is an afterlife, however to this day I still get chills from telling other people the story of what this young man, Timothy Kerlee, sacrificed in order to help others. Below is an anonymous letter I found describing Timothy and the events surrounding his unfortunate death — it was the same story we were all told at Howdy Camp and one that reverberates for me more than any other story of a selfless act.
One more note, in an odd twist-of-fates, one of the survivors, John Comstock later enrolled at the same junior college I attended — we actually had the same Psychology class together back in the fall of 2000. His left leg was amputated below the knee and his right arm is partially paralyzed — but despite these hurdles he still gives education that good ole college try.
The Twelfth ManThe twelve young people who died were truly remarkable kids. They were scholars, student athletes, active in Boy Scouts, 4-H, Church groups, they were leaders. If you had to chose a dozen students to represent the best of Texas A&M, you probably wouldn’t do much better than these. I have just learned about Timothy Doran Kerlee, Jr. He was the twelfth student to die, when his life support was disconnected last Friday evening. Let me tell you about this amazing kid.
Tim graduated last year from Germantown High School in Germantown, Tennessee. He was an Eagle Scout, graduated third in his class, and was elected to his High School Hall of Fame. He was a student athlete, and a member of the National Honor Society. He was active in the youth group and drama club at his Methodist Church.
He was actively recruited by Texas A&M, and when he enrolled he tested out of his entire freshman year. That is how this 17-year-old could be classified as a sophomore. Tim’s father said that he was thrilled to be at A&M, and especially excited about Bonfire.
When the stack collapsed, his pelvis was crushed, his arm was broken, and his internal organs were scrambled like an omelet.
On the front page of Thursday’s Dallas Morning News is a large photo of the collapsed stack taken during the early part of the rescue effort. You can see a team working at the base of the logs to save a trapped student. About five feet above the rescue team is Tim Kerlee, reclining on a pile of logs, propped up on one elbow. Unless you look carefully at the photo you will probably not notice that his legs are lying in an odd position.
What was happening, according to the rescue teams, was that Kerlee was directing the teams to other students trapped in the stack. He kept telling them that he was O.K., and he directed rescuers to at least five other students before he allowed them to take him down from the stack.
He was taken into emergency surgery, and when they opened him up they found his organs so badly damaged that they couldn’t identify much of what they saw. They closed him up, wrapped him in a sheet to hold him together, and placed on life support. He lived long enough to see and speak to his parents. He was aware that he was dying and asked to be removed from life support. When his parents asked him why he wanted to, he asked them why he should fight for a few more days of life when he could be in Heaven with Jesus right now.
Well, he got his wish. I feel sorry that I never had a chance to know Tim Kerlee, but I praise God for kids like Tim Kerlee. If you had to pick a twelfth man you couldn’t do much better.
I attended the Bonfire Memorial ceremony today, along with thousands of other Aggies. If you are ever in the Bryan-College Station area and are interested in learning about or seeing the Memorial, I would be more than happy to show you this somber Spirit of Aggieland.
