Ten years ago there wasn’t Twitter. There wasn’t Facebook or Instagram. We couldn’t easily access the internet from our phones. The closest thing we had to an online communication forum was email and AOL Instant Messenger. News spread much slower, often by word of mouth, instead of through wi-fi hot spots.
Ten years ago, that’s exactly how I found out about the death of Micah Harris.
Micah Harris was a football standout in his hometown of Poland, Ohio and carried on that tradition when he continued his playing — and education — at Duke University. He was a two year starter for the Blue Devils and was expected to be a leader in the Fall of 2004, his senior year.
I knew Micah. Not as well as a lot of my other friends. But I knew him and won’t soon forget him. Ten years later and I can still remember his bear hugs and big smile. Ask anyone who knew him, and that’s a pretty standard sentiment. He was a happy guy that rubbed off on everyone around him. No matter how hard I try, I can’t recall a time he wasn’t smiling ear to ear.
Tragically, Micah passed away ten years ago today due to complications from an automobile accident. And even though we have been without him for so long, we’ll always remember him through the stories we have told for the past ten years, and will continue to tell for the next hundred.
Micah Harris will be forever immortalized in the Poland High School Hall of Fame and the Duke Football Trinity Teammate Award. The former will allow Micah to be a role model to young student athletes for generations to come, while the latter will reward athletes who are unselfish, committed inspirations to their teammates, just as Micah was.
And finally, and most importantly, Micah Harris will be forever immortalized in the hearts of those who knew him. May you continue to rest in peace.
May you never lie, steal, cheat or drink.
But if you must lie, lie in each other’s arms.
If you must steal, steal kisses.
If you must cheat, cheat death.
And if you must drink, drink with us, your friends
Micah Reid Harris
09/28/1982 – 06/11/2004
