Garrett Uekman, 'an amazing soul,' laid to rest

Razorback player, 19-year-old Catholic, called 'serious student and dedicated athlete'

Published: December 3, 2011

By Malea Hargett
Editor

Malea Hargett

Mourners release dozens of red and white helium-filled balloons and call "Woo Pig Sooie" following the Nov. 28 funeral Mass at Christ the King Church in Little Rock for Garrett Uekman, a tight end for the Arkansas Razorbacks. The 19-year-old died suddenly Nov. 20.

Malea Hargett

The Catholic community in Little Rock and Fayetteville mourned with the state at the death of University of Arkansas football player Garrett Uekman.

The 19-year-old member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in North Little Rock played in a televised game against Mississippi State Nov. 19 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, the same venue where he played for Catholic High School. He returned to Fayetteville that night, but the next morning he died from an undiagnosed heart condition.

As a testament to what classmates, friends and family members thought of Uekman, a string of candlelight vigils, rosaries and prayer services were held in the Little Rock area and Fayetteville before the Nov. 28 funeral Mass. On Nov. 25, Uekman was remembered during one of the Razorbacks' biggest games in decades, a loss to No. 1 Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Stickers, posters and arm bands with Uekman's jersey number 88 and "W88 PIG S88IE" were often seen as memorials to the player.

Garrett Uekman Obituary
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The funeral was moved to Christ the King Church in Little Rock to accommodate the more than 1,100 people, including coach Bobby Petrino, a member of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville, UA officials and football players.

Msgr. Lawrence Frederick, rector of Catholic High, was the celebrant, assisted by six diocesan priests.

Eulogy of Garrett Uekman
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At the conclusion of the Mass, Steve Straessle, principal of Catholic High School who also taught Uekman, said the former student's legacy will be that he lived the CHS motto: "Never be a bystander."

"If your faith is tested, defend it. If someone is hungry, feed him. If one is downcast, encourage him. If your test is difficult, prepare for it. If your friends are in trouble, step up. If the little guy needs you, be there.

"Bystanders watch life go by. People like Garrett Uekman get in the game," he said. "Bad things happen when bystanders are in the crowd. Good things come forth when people like Garrett Uekman come forth. You don't live your dreams by twiddling your thumbs..." Straessle said even as a freshman Uekman presented himself as a role model.

"He stood out as a gifted athlete and one of the smart kids, but more importantly he slowly built a solid reputation as a man of faith, a man who respected and adored his family. To say that the other boys looked up to Garrett Uekman is to say that (Mount) Everest is a mountain. He was just that good."

A prayer service was held Nov. 22, two days after his death, at his home parish to unite the 17 classmates he graduated with in eighth grade. About 150 parishioners also attended and greeted Uekman's parents, Danny and Michelle, older sister, Meagan, and grandmother Marie Bennett.

"I can't say a bad word about him," said Sarah Niedzwiedz, a former classmate who now attends Arkansas Tech University. "He always loved to play sports no matter what it was."

One of his relatives and fellow IHM graduates, Lachon Layton added, "Garrett was an amazing soul. He was what everyone wanted to be. He always had a smile on his face … Garrett was always happy. … Everyone who knew Garrett knew he was going to go far."

Uekman, born June 22, 1992, grew up in the Marche community and graduated from Immaculate Heart of Mary School in 2006.

Christie Powell, the parish's youth and religious education director, said. "All of the kids are grieving. They went to preschool together and then here to elementary school. This has really hit them hard. Everyone in this parish is devastated."

Powell, who taught Uekman religion and art in school, said he participated in a limited capacity in the parish youth activities in high school because of conflicts with football practices and games.

"But he was always faithful to Mass," she said. "Football kind of consumed his life."

"He was such a wonderful student. He excelled at everything. He always gave 100 percent. Everybody looked up to him."

Uekman went on to Catholic High School and graduated in 2010. In 2008 as a sophomore he was on the state championship basketball team. With 37 seconds left to play in the championship game, Uekman rebounded a missed shot and put it in for two points giving CHS the lead.

On the CHS football team he was a tight end and was heavily recruited in spring 2010. His dream was to play for the University of Arkansas and wanted to make his "mark" in football. This season he played nine of the 11 games for the No. 6 Razorbacks as a tight end.

While in college he attended Mass at St. Joseph Church and St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish in Fayetteville, he still could be found often at Immaculate Heart of Mary attending Mass with his parents and sister. Powell said she was not surprised to see him play football on Saturday and on Sunday morning he was sitting with his family in the usual pew.

"He did not miss Mass, but when he was (in town) he came here to Mass," she said.

Father John Antony, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville, said he had met the Uekmans when they attended Mass in Fayetteville. He knew the family casually, Father Antony said, but understood the honor student to be "a rather extraordinary young man, both serious student and dedicated athlete."

On the day Uekman was stricken, Father Antony said he was called to the hospital while the family was still en route. The calls came from director Jeff Long, UA athletic director, and Danny Pugh, vice provost for student affairs and dean of students.

"As you can imagine, everyone was devastated and just reeling from the news," Father Antony said in a statement to Arkansas Catholic.

At Washington Regional Medical Center, Father Antony prayed with the family in the chapel. They were joined by Petrino and his wife, Becky, and Long, Pugh and other members of the coaching staff. Pugh is also a parishioner at St. Joseph.

Afterwards, Father Antony said, he went with the family to the emergency room, where Garrett's body lay, and he administered last rites.

"That was great comfort to the family, but I'm sure everyone was still in shock," Father Antony wrote.

Student Body President Michael Dodd was quick to suggest a candlelight vigil for Nov. 20 and he sent a text message to Pugh while Pugh was still at the hospital.

"I shared (the idea) with the family and they expressed a willingness to do that," Pugh said in an interview with Arkansas Catholic.

It was already past 3 p.m., however, and officials couldn't move quickly enough to hold the service that evening. By the time Petrino and Long addressed the news media at 7 p.m., the service had been scheduled for the following evening at Walton Arena.

That was the just the beginning of plans. The following morning, about 25 people, each representing different areas of the university, met to plan the service. Because the men's Razorbacks basketball team practices from 4 to 6:30 p.m. in the arena, planners knew they wouldn't have long to set up the facilities for a 7 p.m. service. Torrential rains were expected for the evening, further complicating plans.

For Pugh, unfortunately, dealing with the loss of a student is something he faces on average 10 to 12 times a year. This was the first time he'd had his own parish priest at hand.

"It was very nice to be able to lean on him," Pugh said.

Father Antony took part in the Monday vigil as did Father Joe Marconi, pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish. Pugh said it was important to include Father Marconi because he's pastor to the Catholic students and faculty.

To pull a candlelight service together so quickly meant nailing down many details, including finding candles for the expected crowd of thousands. Pugh said staff members scattered in different directions and at least two churches -- St. Joseph in Fayetteville and Springdale's Cross Church -- donated candles.

They still needed a large candle, and Father Marconi suggested using St. Thomas' paschal candle, Pugh said.

Father Marconi's "words of comfort" during the vigil explained the significance of the paschal candle, noting it's lighted at baptisms but that the light remains at death. The paschal candle was used to light all candles at the service.

"I was very moved," by Father Marconi's remarks, Pugh said. Afterwards, he spoke to the priest. "I said, 'Man, you blew me away, Father.'"

"Coach Petrino was just phenomenal as well," Pugh said.

He praised the UA administration for its handling of the situation. Petrino, he said, "may not be playing for a football championship, but he's a champion to me. The whole team are champions."

Petrino's decision to cancel practice and allow the athletes to mourn the loss of their teammate showed he really cares about them, Father Marconi said. He praised the entire administration for its handling of the situation.

"I've never been more proud" to be associated with the UA, he added.

Malea Hargett and Patricia May contributed to this article.