Students deal with multiple deaths during summer
The band copes with the deaths of two of their own. A memorial is in the works, but no plans are definite. Another student died.
By Amy Johnson
Staff Reporter

For Marching Band member Aren Morris, this year’s pep rally was a reminder of the loss of two friends.
“Some events bring on tears,” the sophomore education major said.

Senior Garth Ramsey and sophomore Chris Baker, both music education majors and active members of the band, died Aug. 3 and Aug. 6 in separate accidents.

Ramsey fell while rock-climbing with friends in Los Alamos, N.M. He was 22. Baker died in a plane crash near Aledo. He was 19.

The first day of band camp was Aug. 19, and was devoted to mourning the students’ deaths — and celebrating their lives.

Sarah Dreier, a junior interior design major and Ramsey’s former girlfriend, said the band took turns sharing their memories of the students.

“People are still in shock,” Dreier said. “It’s strange that they won’t be here with us anymore.”

The grieving enabled students to discuss the tragedies, said band president Justin Lucero, a senior e-business major.

The band is planning a memorial event for the deceased men. Ross Grant, assistant director of bands, said although nothing has been decided at this time, but many possibilities have been discussed.

Some of the ideas include making a trophy case or mural in memory of the students, hosting fund-raising events to purchase a school-owned trumpet or tuba engraved with the students’ names and conducting a performance to honor their lives.

Dreier said Ramsey loved the outdoors and had dreams of one day playing professionally in an orchestra. He was a member of the TCU Jazz Ensemble, Wind Symphony and Orhestra.

“He was one of the most genuinely nice people I have ever met,” Dreier said. “He will be missed by a lot of people.”

Baker played the tuba for the TCU Marching Band, Symphonic Band and the Tuba Euphonium Ensemble. Friends describe him as friendly, caring and energetic about music and life.

“He was one of my best friends,” said Timothy Kennedy, junior music education major, a fellow band member and long-time friend of Bakers’. “He would do his best to help anyone out anyway he could.”

Another TCU student, Lacey Sexton, 19, died July 25 in Fort Worth. Authorities are awaiting autopsy results to determine the cause of death, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner said.Sexton was a junior psychology major, member of the Chi Omega sorority and a Deans’ scholar.

Don Mills, vice chancellor for student affairs, said the university will work closely with family and respect their wishes pertaining to any ceremony or service.

Three former faculty members also died this summer: Anna Harriet Heyer, a music librarian, at 92; Dr. H. Wayne Ludvigson,an emeritus professor of psychology, at 68; and J. Lee Johnson III, an emeritus professor of management, at 84.