Kansas High School Football Team Pays Tribute to Beloved Photographer
In a poignant tribute, a Kansas high school football team honored their longtime photographer, Linda Gregory, who tragically passed away last Friday. Her untimely demise occurred just four days after an accidental incident on the sidelines of a junior varsity game that she was passionately photographing.
Linda Gregory’s husband, Mel Gregory, took to Facebook to announce her passing just hours before Friday’s game. The 69-year-old photographer had suffered a fall, striking her head on concrete while capturing moments during the junior varsity matchup between Wichita Northwest High School and rival Bishop Carroll High on September 4th. Despite her critical injuries, she remained on life support throughout the week, awaiting organ donation following an inadvertent hit during a blocking play.
Mel Gregory, who co-owned a local photography business with his wife and served as her photography partner, joined other family members at Northwest’s game against Heights High School on Friday. This tradition had persisted for years, as reported by the Wichita Eagle. To honor Linda, all players donned “LG” stickers on their helmets for the entire season. Additionally, a moment of silence was observed in her memory before kickoff.
Mel Gregory took to Facebook once more after the Friday game, sharing his heartfelt thoughts, “I was back on the sidelines tonight to watch Linda Gregory being honored with many tributes. It was hard to do the interviews, and my voice broke way too many times, but I hope I made my beloved Linda Gregory proud of my attempt to be as good as she was.”
The Gregorys initiated their photography journey covering Northwest High sporting events back in 2014, becoming a regular presence at the school’s various sports events.
Coach Steve Martin, speaking about Linda’s impact on the students, remarked, “Linda was an amazing person who breathed life into our students here at Northwest. She would go out of her way to make each kid feel important in her own unique way. Her passion for kids was amazing, but it went deeper than taking pictures for Linda and Mel. They were a part of our football team and always will be. They are family!”
Close friend Joanna Chadwick, who formed a deep connection with Linda during her husband’s basketball coaching days at Northwest, fondly recalled Linda’s influence on the players she photographed. “Linda is the third grandmother to my sons, and that is something I’ll never, ever be able to repay her for,” Chadwick said. “But what is so amazing about Linda is that as much as she loved my family and as much as we loved her, it was that same way with so many other people.”
Former Northwest High star Breece Hall, now a running back with the New York Jets in the NFL, requested prayers upon learning of Linda’s injury. In a Facebook post, he described the Gregorys as “the most genuine, polite, kind, giving, wholehearted people” and extended his heartfelt wishes to Mel Gregory.
This heartfelt tribute to Linda Gregory, who captured countless moments in the world of high school football, reminds us of the profound impact one person can have on a community.
Source: Fox News