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After being paralyzed for 10 years, former Texas Tech football player Stoney Garland died in his home in Plains Wednesday.
After his junior season as a Red Raider, Garland suffered a neck injury in an automobile accident on Nov. 28, 1997 that forced him into a wheelchair for the rest of his life. After numerous surgeries, Garland still was a part of the Red Raider community as one of its most recognizable supporters. During that junior season, Garland had 58 tackles and two sacks.
"Lost a great Red Raider, and a great Red Raider fan, I'll tell you that," former Tech football coach Spike Dykes said. Nobody ever loved the Red Raiders anymore than Stoney Garland."
Through the 10 years he was paralyzed, Garland became a symbol of hope and an inspiration to many inside the Red Raider community, as he has made speeches to past Red Raider teams and children in the community about making the right choices.
"Stoney was an inspirational and impressive young man," Tech coach Mike Leach said in a press release. "He spoke to our team several times at practice and in the locker room before games. All Red Raiders that came in contact with him truly valued his friendship."
Dykes said Garland's battle inspired many he was close to.
"I think he was an inspiration to everybody," Dykes said. "Simply because of the fact that when what happened to him, happens to you when you're 20 years old - you've got all your life and future ahead of you - it's real easy to get bitter and blame and have that attitude. He never did that. He was a total, complete inspiration. That's the thing that makes him so near and dear to your heart."
As a result of his accident, Dykes created the Spike Open in 1998, an annual charity golf event where a portion of the proceeds go to Garland and his mother, Debbie. Over the years, the name has changed to the Red Raider Open, with the same purpose in mind. Instead of a portion of the proceeds going to the Garland family, all of the proceeds from the 2008 Red Raider Open will head to the Garland Family.
The 2008 Red Raider Open takes place at 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday on the Creek and Canyon courses at Meadowbrook Golf Complex. The entry fee for the event is $75 per person with all proceeds going to the Red Raider Scholarship Fund and the Stoney Garland Fund.
"It was something that a lot of people participated in for a lot of years in order to give him some help," Dykes said. "It's been great. The first one we ever had, I guess we had 500 people there It's been a real testimony of how much we meant to this community and how much he mean to the Red Raider fans."
Although much of his life was a constant battle, Dykes said Garland's fight is now over.
"He's fought every single solitary day, just to exist," he said. "He doesn't have to fight anymore. He's at peace.
Funeral services for Garland are planned for 10 a.m. Saturday at Plains High School auditorium.
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