By Tim Branstetter / Staff Writer
Although the Whitley County Colonels fell short of winning the state championship this year, senior running back Alex Patrick proved to have the heart of a champion.
Patrick found a purse on the side of the road during a trip to Wal-Mart, but the high school senior did not keep the $750 that was inside. In fact it never crossed his mind.
“My parents raised me right,” Patrick said. “The first thing I thought was we have to get this back to however lost it.”
Karen Jones was preparing for a trip to Ohio to spend the holidays with her family when her purse was lost. The money inside was to pay for her trip and to buy Christmas gifts.
After the recent news of college players breaking laws, Whitley County coach Jim Black was impressed with what this high school student athlete did.
“You see players doing things like the University of Tennessee players and here you have a high school kid going the other direction,” he said. “It makes you feel good as a coach, but this is a tribute to his parents.”
Whitley County Sheriffs Deputy Ronnie Bowling spoke about the deed and was also impressed with Patrick.
“I think it’s great,” Bowling said. “I personally thanked him and told him that I was proud of him. This was a bad story that turned good. I hear he is a great football player, but those actions made him a champion. He saved somebody’s Christmas.”
Patrick to the purse to Sheriffs Deputy Troy Sharpe. Sharpe is a friend of the Patrick family.
“Alex brought it to me,” Sharpe said. “I wasn’t surprise, because he is just that kind of kid. We are all so proud of that young man. He gives the community something to be proud of. She was so excited, she couldn’t beleive she got her purse back.”
Patrick was told Jones fell to her knees and started crying when she received her purse.
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