On Monday, Duncan Middle School opened its doors to the Measured By Character organization.
The organization, which was founded following the death of Ryan Blakely White, held an assembly during the first half of the school day. Wade White, Ryan White’s father, led the assembly.
On Good Friday in 2012, Ryan White died after a head-on collision with a tracker on FM 427 near Aubrey, Texas.
Wade White talked about the loss of his oldest son during the assembly, and focused on the importance of living a life of character.
Wade White said that one morning after he just got back from driving back from Houston, he was sitting in his office doing desk work and Ryan White was playing Words with Friends with his mother as they sat together on the couch.
While playing the game, the two were talking. Ryan White started talking about following God and how in a couple of years the cellular device in his hand would be used to do many mean things and help in bullying people.
Wade White, who was working, stopped to listen to the conversation. Afterward, he talked to his son about the conversation, and Ryan White told him people can do many mean things with technology.
The next day was Good Friday, and Ryan White, who had transferred to the Aubrey School District didn’t have school the next day. He was planning on spending the day with his father. The only thing he had to do before that was to take his brother, Cooper, to school and to return straight home.
When Wade White discovered Ryan White wasn’t home later that morning, he first thought his son had disobeyed him. But it was after hearing about an accident on the farm road, Wade White realized something might be wrong.
Wade White drove to the accident site, and he knew what had happened, even asking a police officer if a white truck had been involved. He was let through the barrier, and saw the wreckage.
Throughout the assembly, Wade White talked about the importance of making a difference in the lives of other. White also said it is importance to leave a lasting positive legacy, much like Ryan White did.
Ryan White’s legacy affected his town and his friends. People wore the color white in his honor, while more than 1,300 people attended his funeral.
