Communities across mid-Missouri remember Tipton teen

Communities across mid-Missouri are finding ways to memorialize the Tipton teenager who died Thursday morning after suffering a head injury during a football game.

Fellow students, competitors and faculty all had good memories to share about Chad Stover.

Alexx Lewis and Drew Norton visited Stover in the hospital after his injury. Even though they were competitors on the field, they had nothing but love for the fallen football player.

“I hope he’s not remembered for the injury, but for what he did and who he was,” Norton said. “He was a great person and competitor.”

“I didn’t know him personally, but it didn’t matter, he just influenced everyone in this area,” Lewis added.

The California High School athletic director, Bob Staton, talked about the legacy Stover leaves behind.

“This is one of those lessons Chad is teaching us — you stick together, you cry together and you pick each other back up.”

The team plans to wear Stover’s number, 18, on their football helmets during their playoff game this weekend.

They also take a moment of silence before each other their games to honor Stover.

Staton said schools all across Missouri and even past state borders called to ask when California would be taking the moment of silence so they could do it at the same time.

The students said they are trying to look at the silver lining of the situation. They said it’s what Chad would want them to do.