Austin McGehee still plans to wear No. 16 this fall as an incoming freshman at Purdue to honor his best friend, former Star City linebacker Zack Towers, who died early Wednesday.
“It means something,” McGehee said.
Pulaski County coroner Gerone Hobbs said Towers, 19, died shortly before 4 a.m. Wednesday at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.
The official cause of death wasn’t immediately determined, but Hobbs said it was related to Towers’ ongoing medical problems.
Towers, who wore No. 16 at Star City, was a senior when he collapsed from a head injury during the Bulldogs’ Nov. 1, 2012, game against Crossett. Towers later underwent brain surgery and spent several weeks at Children’s Hospital before being released in December 2012.
McGehee said Towers was in a Conway assisted-living facility when he was stricken with a “neuro storm,” a neurological disorder that can follow traumatic brain injuries. McGehee said Towers was transported to Children’s Hospital, but medical officials were unable to stabilize his heart rate after it dropped and CPR was unsuccessful.
Star City Coach Jett Furneaux, the school’s offensive coordinator in 2012, declined an interview request early Wednesday afternoon.
“Anytime something like this happens, it’s an obvious shock, but it’s reassuring to know that he’s returned to a normal state,” McGehee said. “It’s reassuring to know that he’s not laying in that bed anymore.”
McGehee lives in Star City and kicked for the Bulldogs as a freshman and sophomore before transferring to Pine Bluff before the 2012 season. McGehee said last fall that he was normally in contact with Towers at least once a week, adding that Towers was recovering at his mother’s home in Little Rock.
Towers was able to attend one of Star City’s football games last fall, but McGehee said there was never any significant change in Towers’ condition since he was initially injured.
The last post on the Facebook page that updated Towers’ condition prior to his death was entered Jan. 28 and stated:
“Zack is having a good week after a rough week last week. We spent all day in the ER at Children’s last Tuesday with him. Still having neuro storms and they sometimes last for a long time. He continues to go home on the weekends and he seems to have adjusted well at his temporary home. Please remember to pray for him. We still have a long way to go. God is not through with Zack’s situation.”
As word leaked out early Wednesday morning of Towers’ death, the Arkansas football community flooded social media sites like Twitter with condolences.
“One of my best friends growing up is gone,” former Rogers Heritage quarterback Josh Qualls posted on Twitter. “You changed the lives of many including me. Now you can rest buddy.”
Qualls will be a freshman this fall at Arkansas Tech. Towers’ older brother, Ty Towers, will be a senior quarterback this fall at Ouachita Baptist.
“I now have a guardian angel,” Towers posted on Twitter. “Watch over me brother. I Love you more than words can ever say.”
McGehee said he last saw Zack Towers on Jan. 19, the same day Pine Bluff’s former standout place-kicker/punter turned 18.
McGehee wore No. 15 for the Zebras, but said he requested No. 16 at Purdue because it will have more significance for Towers’ family.
“Just cherish the memories,” McGehee said.
Visitation is 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church in Star City, with the funeral scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at the church.
Sports, Pages 17 on 02/20/2014