Shannon Stone was a hero.
He was a hero to the residents of Brownwood, Texas, whose Fire Department he served for 18 years. He was a hero to victims of Texas wildfires and Hurricanes Katrina and Ike. He was a hero to the 40 people he benefited as an organ donor, including one given the gift of sight.
But above all, he was a hero to his 6-year-old son, Cooper.
“He is a fallen hero,” said one of the pallbearer’s mothers, Debra Kirkland, tearing up as she spoke. “The whole community is praying for that family and also for that little boy, Cooper.” Stone was known to be inseparable from his son.
On Thursday night, the father and son went to a Rangers game in Arlington. They stopped to visit Stone’s parents, bought a new glove on the way and sat in left field seats behind Josh Hamilton, Cooper’s favorite player.
The All-Star outfielder threw them a foul ball, but the thrill quickly turned tragic when Stone fell. Witnesses said Stone was conscious afterward and fretted about his boy being alone in the stands. He died within an hour.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
How to help:
The Shannon Stone Memorial Fund, Brownwood Fire Department
Donations can be sent to:
Bank of America
c/o Shannon Stone Memorial Fund
Account # 488033378318
1 Center Ave.
Brownwood, Texas 76801
The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation Memorial Account
Donate online at:
https://secure.mlb.com/tex/community/shannon_stone_fund.jsp