Kenny McCoy, 15, near Lashburn, Saskatchewan
We lost Kenny, our eldest son, on July 1999 at the age of 15 years. He was killed while working at his first summer job at a tire recycling plant. A friend of the family had offered him a job for the summer. He wanted to earn some money so he could buy his first car as soon as he turned 16. Kenny had matured into a tall, strong, responsible young man. We couldn’t say no when he was so eager to go to work. Kenny wanted to prove his strengths and was eager to please.
On his third night on the job, he was given the responsibility to drive and unload a dump truck on the far side of the yard. He was alone. When Kenny did not return, fellow employees went to look for him. They found him pinned between the box and the cab of the truck. His chest was crushed. Kenny was an unsupervised, inexperienced teen who was given too much responsibility. This tragic accident could have been prevented.
Kenny had just received the Spirit of Youth Award at his Grade 9 graduation. Kenny showed a positive attitude to school and community. He was a leader and a role model. He was a proud Canadian. Kenny also received the Athlete of the Year Award. He played all school sports and loved baseball. Kenny earned the Most Improved Student Award with his determination to do well at all he attempted. One of the songs that was played at Kenny’s funeral was by Kenny Rogers called “The Greatest.” It is about a boy practicing baseball alone with a bat and a ball. The boy is trying to either hit a home run or pitch 3 strikes, which ever comes first. This song described Kenny’s determination to a tee. We will never be able to drive by a baseball field without thinking of Kenny.
We are proud of our son and his accomplishments in his short life. A memorial hangs in the hall of the Marshall School with all his medals and awards. We will continue to give the Kenny McCoy Memorial Awards for Technology each June to a deserving Grade 9 student in his honour. Kenny will always be loved and missed by his parents and Brad, Alix and Rick. |
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15
years old
Killed on his first summer job at a tire recycling
plant
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