One senior student will be graduating in the hearts of his classmates when they turn their tassles in 2011. Douglas Uselton, age 17, and his father Steven Uselton, age 44, died in a car crash on the way to a speech and debate competition at Fullerton High School. While suspected drunk driver, Angel Lopez, age 18, only suffered minor injuries, the Useltons were pronounced dead shortly after the crash.
Many of Douglas’ friends visited the scene and watched in horror. On Facebook, some friends created event pages and invites for his memorial, fundraiser, and prayer meeting. Douglas’ Facebook page is filled with comments posted by his friends expressing their feelings and support.
Douglas Uselton was active at Oxford Academy through baseball, basketball, speech and debate, and journalism. At a pep rally, he led the whole school in singing the school fight song. Lendehl Sahagun, a senior at Oxford Academy and a close friend to Doug, said that “Doug was the ideal athlete, the ideal student, and the ideal friend. His life impacted the lives of thousands and his spirit will live on in our hearts forever.” The day after the crash, students organized a prayer meeting at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church. Despite differences in religion, students from various high schools united to pray for Douglas and his family.
The Ulseltons’ memorial was held on December 20, 2010 at the school gym. The mayor of Cypress, the superintendent of Anaheim Union High School District, and school officials of Oxford Academy attended the memorial. Some of Doug’s favorite songs could be heard through the speakers as people gathered to sit down for the service. The collage of speeches and video memories contributed by Doug’s peers moved many people to tears.
Doug’s basketball team and baseball team wore their jerseys, his speech and debate team wore their formal business attire, and his home period wore shirts they made to show their support of their fallen friend. They wanted to convey that he will always be a part of Class of 2011 at Oxford Academy.
“A few of us will remember Doug as an athlete, as a speech and debater, a [newspaper] editor, a history nut, but all of us will remember him as a friend,” Kevin Park, a fellow senior, said. “To say that Doug was a one-of-a-kind person would be a gross understatement. And while idealization is the last thing Doug would want, I can say with full confidence that he was hated by none, liked by all, and loved by many.”
Students have decided to wear black in honor of Uselton when they return to school after the winter break on January 4, 2011.
