Web posted
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Community says goodbye to Derek
By CHRIS ROBINETTE
Traveler Correspondent
David Maslen, speaking of his longtime friend Derek Burroughs, eulogized: "He was a unique creation of God."
The loss of a life is tragic for any community, but losing a young life makes the ordeal all the more sorrowful. Maslen went on to describe Burroughs as "precocious," courageous" and "polite to a fault."
Ark City resident Burroughs, 20, died on Feb. 14. Earlier in the day he left school complaining of a headache. He laid down to rest at approximately 4:30 p.m. When family tried to wake him a few hours later, he was unresponsive. Burroughs was rushed to the South Central Regional Medical Center via ambulance and was pronounced dead.
The preliminary cause of death according to Doctor Aaron Watters of SCRMC was as a cerebral aneurysm. No official results are available at press time; they are awaiting a family-requested autopsy.
The memorial was held at the Cowley College campus, which was closed from 10 a.m. to noon to allow students and staff to attend. The theater was packed with family, friends, Cowley faculty and classmates who gathered at the Brown Center on the Cowley College campus on Feb. 19 to remember Burroughs' life. The stage was filled with flowers, including a baseball display that read "D-Rock," Burroughs' nickname.
"I was thrilled to know him and call him my friend," said Brent Hodge, a former Cowley College baseball player. The entire Cowley College baseball team attended in jerseys. Burroughs was the scorekeeper for the baseball team, though he did not play. Burroughs was known for his strong love of baseball and the Cowley College baseball team.
"He loved baseball, and he loved to win," said Hodge, speaking about Burroughs' excitement over a major win by the Cowley College baseball team.
Burroughs' father, Dave Burroughs, is the head coach.
"[He] loved working with his dad. He was very dedicated to the players," said Marlys Cervantes, his academic advisor at Cowley College.
Derek Burroughs planned to attend Oklahoma State University (OSU) next fall. He was going to continue his pre-law degree at OSU while majoring in history.
"[He] wanted to dabble in law and teach history at a major university," said Derek Burroughs' uncle, Darren Burroughs.
Well known for his love of history and learning, "Derek was a Renaissance man in the 21st century," Maslen said.
"Derek knew more about every subject than most teachers do," said former Cowley College baseball player Tyler Fleming when it came his time to speak.
Cervantes said Burroughs was confident, but added that he always helped other students in class. "[Burroughs] was an example student."
Those who spoke talked about Burroughs' love for his friends and family.
"Derek's definition of love was much deeper than popular culture's, even at its best," said Maslen.
"He loved his family, he loved his friends, and he loved the [baseball] team," said Hodge.
Some shared humorous memories of Burroughs. Maslen told a story about
Burroughs tossing a "glob" of pizza dough into a ceiling fan. He was preparing pizza for a party he was hosting for the Cowley College baseball players, before they all went on winter break. The story brought smiles to the sad of those gathered.
Family and friends took a tour down memory lane with a picture presentation, driven by songs from the Beetles, Borroughs' favorite band. Pictures showed Burroughs all the way from all his younger years to his college days.
The memorial concluded with a speech by Reverend Stephen Bailey of First Baptist Church. Burroughs was a member of the church, where he was a substitute Sunday school teacher.
Bailey ended by speaking of Burroughs' personality, "He had a fixed sense of the world around him."
"He marched to his own drum."
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