Missouri 8-man football community honors 18-year old who drowned saving little brother

At South Holt High School in Oregon, Missouri, the lights at the football field flash after each victory.

On Sunday night, the lights flashed again, to honor Alex Harris.

The 18-year-old drowned in the Missouri River on Saturday while rescuing his little brother, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and a Facebook post from his father, Tyson.

Harris had graduated from South Holt months earlier alongside 26 other seniors, and his graduating class came up with the idea to honor him through a candlelight vigil. Close family friend and South Holt teacher April Allen helped organize the memorial with the approval of Harris’ parents.

“The (Harris family) thought it would be a great honor for Alex and a good tribute,” Allen said. “They didn’t know if they were strong enough to be here yet. But they wanted everybody to be here and just show their support for Alex, to show how much he meant to everybody.”

At the high school’s football field, surrounded by a gravel track, hundreds came to the candlelight vigil. In Oregon, population 963, seemingly the entire community and more was there to honor Alex.

Parking overflowed into the street. So many showed up that there weren’t enough candles. And as hundreds descended upon the school, just as they had to watch Alex and his teammates play during the football season, friends and neighbors remembered the 18-year-old.

“Small towns like this, people say, ‘Hey, we need help.’ Alex is one of the first ones to jump in and help,” Allen said. “Alex was a poster child for a small-town kid: big heart, always willing to help others and put his life on the line, which he did.”

Friends told stories of a funny senior prank moment and of Alex’s kindness — Luke Worley said Alex was a hard-working friend “who would do anything for me.”

Football coach Josh Peterson worked with Alex both hauling hay and in sports. After playing running back his junior year, Peterson said, Alex moved to the offensive line his senior season to help the team.

“He was the same person off the field and on the field, willing to sacrifice doing whatever he could to help his teammates,” Peterson said.

The tight-knit 8-man Missouri football community has shown their support for Alex and his family, Peterson said. During the ceremony, Allen asked everyone who wasn’t from South Holt to raise their hand. Nearly half the crowd did, including players from nearby St. Joseph and Savannah that had come to the vigil.

Afterwards, Alex’s friends honored him with duck calls — Alex was an avid duck hunter. The graduating class flew a lantern with messages to Alex into the sky. And the lights flashed as pickup drivers burned out as a tribute to Alex.

The following morning, the South Holt community was back at the football field: the team started its training camp for the upcoming season without Alex for the first time in years.

“I know a lot of our players have played with him,” Peterson said. “They’ve got a heavy heart. So this season will be pretty much dedicated to Alex, played for him and played like how he played. Hopefully, it’ll give his parents some kind of comfort knowing that he’s still with us even though he’s gone in passing.”