FAYETTEVILLE -- Solomon Simpson touched the lives of many in the Fayetteville community and beyond. Those closest to Simpson are now doing their part to make sure his memory will live on.
Simpson, a Fayetteville High graduate in 2012, died near Lebanon, Mo., on May 15, 2013, as a result of injuries sustained from a road accident. Just 19 years old at the time of his death, Simpson was a sophomore at the University of Arkansas pursuing a degree in nursing with a minor in French.
Friday, friends and family gathered at Bulldog Track at Fayetteville Ramey Junior High, where the first Foxy Twilight Run For Solomon Simpson fundraiser in honor of Simpson was held.
"We got this idea for this (event) in May of 2013, pretty much right after Solomon's death," Fayetteville cross country coach and event director Michelle Fyfe said. "We knew we wanted to honor him, and as his coaches what better way than to honor him through a run. And we're doing it at Ramay where it all began, where he started to run."
Simpson was an all-state distance runner at Fayetteville and a member of the Bulldogs state champion 4x800 relay team in 2011. Fyfe recalled some of her fondest memories with her former pupil on the track.
"I think my favorite memory was when the boys brought all their video games to the state track meet at Rogers High school," Fyfe said. "And all the boys were just goofy and funny and then they went out and just tore it up. Solomon was a crucial member of that 4x800 team.
"We were neck and neck with Conway and we needed those points, and Solomon finished fifth (in the 800-meters) and he had woken up that morning with a toothache. And there's a picture with those boys and me together, holding a baton. That picture will forever be in my mind when I think of Solomon."
The twilight run included an Elite 5K, a 5K open run and a 5K run/walk. Members of the Arkansas cross country team helped pace the Elite 5K race, which included Solomon's former teammates Aiden Swain. and Tevin Whitney. Whitney was with Simpson at the time of his accident.
"We're really excited to be able to do this," said Swain, who honored his friend by wearing a Ramay Junior High jersey during the race Friday. "We've been playing this for a year now and I'm glad that we did it.
"He would love this right now, and I'm sure he's looking down and enjoying it and watching."
Solomon was also passionate about his music and often could be heard playing for locals at the Fayetteville Farmer's Market. In his honor, music was also provided by Benjamin Del Shreve, Kevin Watkins and others.
"It's all in the spirit of Solomon," Fyfe said. "He was a musician and an athlete and he was an incredible human being. So doing all of this in his honor is the best thing we can do."
All proceeds from the race go towards the Celebrating Solomon Scholarship, which will awarded annually to a Fayetteville High senior who exhibits a love for sports, the arts and the human spirit.
"That's really exciting for future students," Solomon's mother, Celine Simpson said. "When they choose the students (for the scholarship) they'll try to find someone who had his spirit. Because he was a musician and an athletic and just very loving to everyone. So that's something that's very touching."
Sports on 08/16/2014