Shooting victim remembered for spirit
Richard Hixon spoke of his brother and how he lived his life with the same spirit and dedication that won him the Spirit Award his senior year the Pleasant Valley High School. JUDY DOLGOS-KRAMER/TIMES NEWS
Chris Hixon’s mother, Toni, shared some of her thoughts on her son who was killed in the Parkland, Florida, shooting.
The Hixon family presented a flag that included the number from Hixon’s football jersey, 14, as well as the Stoneman Eagle and the Pleasant Valley Bear paw. Principal Matthew Triolo promised the family that the flag would always be on display at the high school and that it would assure that Chris Hixon was never forgotten. Pleasant Valley Middle School Principal Rocco Seiler, left, and high school Principal Matthew Triolo accepted the flag from Natalie Hixon. JUDY DOLGOS-KRAMER/TIMES NEWS
Chris Hixon won the Spirit Award in his senior year at Pleasant Valley High School, and according to his brother he lived every day of his life with that same spirit and dedication.
Hixon was killed on Feb. 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. It is said that Hixon ran toward the gunfire and then stood guard over others while mortally wounded.
On Thursday evening, members of the Pleasant Valley Class of 1986 held a celebration of life in honor of Hixon. The event was attended by a group of his classmates who have joined together to make sure that Hixon’s memory will live on at Pleasant Valley.
The friends and classmates were joined by members of Hixon’s family, including his parents, Russell and Toni Hixon, his brother Richard and sister Natalie and their families and one of Hixon’s sons, Corey.
The evening opened with a prayer led by deacon Ralph Weichand of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Brodheadsville.
Pleasant Valley Middle School Principal Rocco Seiler introduced a video that was put together by members of Hixon’s graduating class. The video featured photos of Hixon taken while he attended Pleasant Valley. The video concluded with the words: Our Classmate, Our Friend, Our Hero.
Seiler spoke of his own relationship with Hixon and how Hixon was among the first to welcome him to Pleasant Valley when he transferred there in 10th grade.
“When I entered the wrestling room he was the first to take me under his wing,” said Seiler. “I was angry when I got there. Chris took me down first and then he built me up.”
“Chris would literally give you the shirt off his back,” said Brett Middleton. “I mean really. I remember during Spirit Week when everyone was supposed to wear a jersey one girl didn’t have one and Chris literally took his number 14 football jersey off and let her wear it for the day.”
Middleton said that Hixon was friends with everybody.
“Chris didn’t care who you hung out with, jocks, band kids, it didn’t matter. He liked everyone and they all liked him.”
Despite the fact that Chris Hixon lettered in three sports at Pleasant Valley, his brother Richard insisted that he was the better athlete.
“He was not a good wrestler, he couldn’t run, he had big feet, flat feet,” his brother said. “But none of that mattered, because if you needed him, he was always there.”
“Chris won the spirit award at Pleasant Valley, and he lived it every day,” Richard Hixon added. “He even painted his house PV blue. Who would do that?”
Both his brother and his mother, Toni, spoke of how important the number 14 was to Hixon.
“He wore number 14, he graduated on the 14th, he went into the Navy on the 14th and he was married on the 14th,” his mother said. “And he died on Feb. 14. That number has come to have a very special meaning for us.”
Richard Hixon added that when he first moved to Florida, his brother had a license plate that read “Hixon 14.” He also said the exit off the Sawgrass Parkway to the high school where his brother was the athletic director is Exit 14.
“I know that when he died, he died saving the life on that day of someone who is going to go on to do something great with their life, something that will affect all of our lives.”
Pleasant Valley High School Principal Matthew Triolo joined Seiler in presenting a PV Bears blanket to Hixon’s son Corey. In turn the Hixon family presented Triolo with a custom flag designed by Richard Hixon that included both the Pleasant Valley Bear paw and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Eagle as well as the number 14.
The Hixon family has started a scholarship fund in his memory and will be offering a scholarship every year in each of the three Broward County high schools that Hixon had worked in during his career.
Hixon was laid to rest on Feb. 21 with full military honors, at the South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth, Florida.
The Pleasant Valley Class of 1986 is also funding a scholarship in his name. Seiler said the class plans to host a 5K run and a golf tournament yearly to fund the scholarship.
Anyone interested in donating to the Broward County scholarships can contact cdtchixon@cs.com. Those who wish to donate to the Pleasant Valley scholarship in Hixon’s honor should contact Cathi Larzelere Lenning at cathi.lenning@mail.com.
The memorial celebration concluded with the playing of echo taps. The rendition was played by high school band director James DeVivo and his brother, middle school band director, John DeVivo.
