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SPRINGFIELD — Missouri State University paused today to remember a fallen teammate, friend and fellow Bear.
Richard Nelson wasn’t a Bear for long, but the phrase being adopted after his death is: “Once a Bear, always a Bear.”
The 18-year-old freshman left a big impact on MSU during the short time he was a student.
“We knew we were getting a really, really good football player, we didn’t understand the impact of his happiness, his enthusiasm and all the intangibles he brought to the table,” said Head Coach Dave Steckel.
Nelson was killed in his hometown of Las Vegas on January 14, protecting his sister when she was jumped by acquaintances outside the family’s home.
Sunday’s memorial service was a chance for campus to say goodbye to the freshman tailback. For those who coached or played alongside Nelson, losing him was like losing a member of the family.
“We lost one of those sons in Richard Nelson,” said running backs coach Munir Prince. “That was my buddy. That was my buddy. We had some great times and I’m really going to miss him.”
Also in attendance were Nelson’s mother, stepfather and grandmother. Roxanne, Nelson’s mother, said she will most remember his smile.
“He was a wonderful kid,” she said. “He always made me laugh, too. He was always trying to prove himself to me, but never had to. Because he was always good in my eyes, he was always the best.”
Roxanne says her family is coping as best they can. Attending the memorial service showed them firsthand how important Richard was to the Missouri State family.
“It was very important that Roxanne be here with her family to, for lack of a better word, for closure,” Steckel said. “And to know the importance of his honor and his respect for what he’s given us in a short period of time.”
That selfless act, friends and coaches say, defines who Richard Nelson was as a person.
“Team and family come first,” said Kyle Moats, Athletic Director at MSU. “I can’t think of a better example of this than the courage that Richard displayed. He literally was protecting the team. His family.”
Family members stick together in tough times and Nelson will be loved and remembered at Missouri State for a long time.
“It makes me happy that my son was loved, not only by me but a lot of other people,” Roxanne said.
A scholarship has been set up in Nelson’s name in Las Vegas.
In Springfield, Missouri State Athletics has set up a memorial fund through Great Southern Bank. Donations can be made at any Springfield Branch.
