Rest in Peace

July 15, 2009

I’ve put together a short list of past friends that have passed on. Maybe you knew some of these people or maybe you know more details about what happened and where. Please let me know if you know something I don’t know. Also, please share your knowledge of people you knew that passed on that I might have known. Thanks.


William Stacey led a very wild life after he left high school early. Alcohol, pot, and eventually meth, made him fear nothing. After a few flying lessons, (enough to learn how to land), he stole a Cessna 152 from Arlington Municipal Airport in the middle of the night on July 11, 1989. When he figured out that the police were waiting for him to land, he tried to land on Green Oaks just east of the airport. William died when his plane struck a huge power line and fell to the street. William was one of my best friends from 10th grade at Sam, until about ’87.

Newspaper article p1http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb27/igniter64/Misc/WSIII.jpg
Newspaper article p2http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb27/igniter64/Misc/WSIV-1.jpg




Dave Koon went to Sam from ’79 to ’81. He worked at A&A Box in Grand Prairie ever since the mid 80’s. In Feb 2004, Dave died after collapsing at work. I don’t remember the exact cause, but it was something having to do with his heart. I knew Dave since the summer between 9th and 10th grades. Dave was always a good friend.

Dave's Obituary - http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb27/igniter64/Misc/DKOBIT.jpg








Mike Napier lived in the house directly across the street from the front doors of Ferguson Jr. High. He died in the late 90’s or early 2000’s in Kentucky when he apparently got pulled over with warrants and decided there was no way he was going to go back to the pen. The police killed him when he came out of his car with a gun. Mike was a good friend of mine, (and my first room-mate), since junior high school. I’m not sure on any details here – it’s only what I heard from someone else.







Phil Mitchell died in 1990 in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, while on a solo hiking excursion into one of the most extreme areas in the park. I knew Phil at Blanton Elementary on Collins in Arlington. Phil also went to Sam. He was actually a brand new doctor and obviously on his way to a very successful career. I have been hiking and climbing that area for years, so it really hit home when I found that newspaper article. There is a permanent plaque at the trail head going to the south base of Elk Mountain with Phil’s name and a relevant quote: “Never go alone.”

Newspaper article p1 - http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb27/igniter64/Misc/PM1-1.jpg
Newspaper article p2 - http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb27/igniter64/Misc/PM2.jpg




Dane Longino was a good friend at Ferguson Jr. High. He also went to Sam. I’m not sure about any of the details here, but I think that Dane died in an auto accident on Collins in far north Arlington, (the area north of the Trinity River), not too long after high school graduation.
Ronny Swaim has recently, (2008 or 2009) died in prison. I don’t know any of the details here, but Ronny was a good friend of mine during high school and for a while after. I do know that Ronnie was taken by meth, and never came back. I don’t know what prison he was in or for what reason, and I don’t know the circumstances surrounding his death.






Ronny Swaim has recently, (2008 or 2009) died in prison. I don’t know any of the details here, but Ronny was a good friend of mine during high school and for a while after. I do know that Ronnie was taken by meth, and never came back. I don’t know what prison he was in or for what reason, and I don’t know the circumstances surrounding his death.

Note: I have not been able to verify Ronny's death, and my source was not sure about it either. Please share any information you may have.