So I just learned that a murder story I had been following was the daughter of a friend, and his

[jobycom]

reaction to the murder has left me humbled and in awe of him.

Tiffany Talley was an honor student and a star high school basketball player. She was shot in the face by her ex-boyfriend as she entered his FEMA trailer in December of 06. The boyfriend never denied shooting her, but claimed it was an accident, and a response to the fearful living conditions inside a FEMA park. He gave several stories about how the "accident" happened, but on the stand he said he had picked up the gun when she knocked because he didn't know who it was, and was still holding the gun when she pushed past him into the trailer, and the gun accidentally went off. Records showed he was on the phone with her while she was standing outside his trailer, so his excuse was unbelievable, but the jury couldn't prove intent, and he was convicted of manslaughter.

I followed this story casually, upset by it as any parent would be, but yesterday I ran into a post from an old high school friend on Facebook. Tiffany's stepfather was a high school friend of ours.

Let me tell you a little about this friend. Marcus Lawton was a star athlete in high school, too, and a darned good writer--I knew him from a creative writing class we took together. He could also draw, and I still have a series of drawings he gave me as a Christmas present--we drew names and had to create the presents ourselves. Out of high school he went to the Mets farm league, and eventually, for a couple of weeks, played in the majors for the NY Mets. Another of our friends has his rookie card. Eventually an injury killed his career. Incidentally, his brother Matt played several years in the majors for the Twins and the Mariners.

I was always impressed my Marcus, by his skills and talents and intelligence, but all of that seems shallow compared to who has revealed himself to be now. Instead of anger and bitterness--although I'm sure there's plenty of that--he and his incredible spouse Ursula have started a scholarship fund at his daughter's high school for student athletes, with the intention of memorializing his daughter, but also of highlighting the problem of teen violence and domestic violence. He has turned his horrific personal loss into a chance to help others, to prevent others from suffering.

This video is a little long, but if you watch even part of it, you'll see an incredible strength, and an even more incredible heart. I can barely watch his wife as he is speaking, and her struggle to fight what she's feeling. "Heart" is often used to describe an athlete's desire to win, but here Marcus shows a completely different and far superior meaning of the word.

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=91871111384&h=WCLwQ&u=6PzUY

Deepest condolences, Marcus. I always admired your athletic skills, your baseball career, your moment of fame, your drawings, your writings, your easy charm and sincere personality. Yeah, I and the rest of us were all a little jealous, too. But I am in awe of you now, for something I could never be jealous of you for, for something I know would destroy me completely. And for using that event to help others. I hope you and Ursula can find peace again.

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1. I remember Matt Lawton playing for the Twins

sad story. :(