Memorial walk held for fall victim
Community members honor SHS student- athlete Dustin HuffmanBy B.J. LISKO
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SALEM - Earlier this spring, when the Salem boys 800-meter relay team qualified for the state track and field meet in Columbus, Dustin Huffman, a junior at the time and the substitute for the squad, wanted to give up his spot on the squad so that a senior could compete in his final year.
"He got there and said that it was more important to the team to give up his spot," Salem resident and Quaker track supporter Eric Matthews said.
Huffman did compete in the race alongside fellow Quakers Ben Eisel, Zack
Penick and Dustin Matak and the group brought home the state title.
"He is going to be remembered as a great runner, but more as a great human being," Matthews said.
Hundreds of friends, family and community members came to Reilly Stadium in Salem Thursday night for a memorial walk in honor of the 17-year-old who died Tuesday when he fell down a hillside while working at Beaver Creek.
Visibly shaken parents, students and community members comforted one another in an outpouring of support for their late friend.
"Even in the most serious of moments, he could always make you laugh,"teammate and recent graduate Jason Keniston said. "He was just an all-around great person."
Another teammate of Huffman's, also a 2009 graduate, Mike Boggs said he would remember his friend for his unwavering show of support in any circumstance.
"He was always there for everyone," Boggs said. "Everybody loved him."
Huffman fell down a steep hill Tuesday afternoon at Beaver Creek State Park while working for A-1 Tree Service. Huffman was working with his best friend Tyler Smith, also of Salem, when he fell. Smith tried to stabilize Huffman after the fall. Emergency personnel arrived on the scene shortly after and reported Huffman had died.
"What you see here is the impact this kid had," Matthews said. "He lived a life so full. He always made sure everyone else was happy about their day. Who would've though we would be here tonight doing what we are doing? Tears help us heal. I'm telling everyone to let them flow."
Grief counseling will be available from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m. today and Friday at the Salem High School library.
"We'll definitely all miss him," Boggs said.
E-mail B.J. Lisko at bjlisko@salemnews.net
