Clinton Chronicle article - Wednesday, May 12th, 1999
Awards ceremony serves as tribute to Kevin Adams
The death of teammate and friend Kevin Adams stayed on the hearts and minds of the members of the Clinton High boy’s tennis team all season.
Saturday, on the state AAA championship stage, the team honored Kevin and his family.
The teamchant – "KA 5/8" – adorned the right sock of each team member for the state championship match.
And when the match was over, the Red Devils laid aside the disappointment of the 4-2 loss to Myrtle Beach.
Prior to the awards ceremony, the team left the court and returned with Susan Adams, Kevin’s mother, who was in attendance at the match.
"She’s been a great supporter and we wanted to have her participate in the awards ceremony in Kevin’s place, said Clinton coach Clovis Simmons.
Susan Adams was presented the medal Kevin would have won, said the coach.
The CHS boys’ tennis team members were also presented a tribute by Susan Adams.
"When Kevin was in the hospital (following the Feb. 26 car accident), someone gave Susan a handful of angel pins," said Coach Simmons.
As it happened there were seven pins – one for each member of the tennis team.
Coach Simmons said Susan Adams went to find boxes for the pins to present to the team and found exactly seven little white boxes.
"I guess you call it ironic," said Coach Simmons.
"Fate," said Clinton High tennis team member Jeffrey Young. "I call it fate."
The team members were presented with the pins and will wear them later this month at the Clinton High spring sports banquet in remembrance of Kevin.
"Even though we didn’t need anything to remind us, the pins are something to keep Kevin in our minds and our hearts," said Coach Simmons.
By the way, the team also developed a new chant for the next season.
"KA 2000."
About Kevin
Kevin Adams was 16 years old and just two weeks short of his seventeenth birthday when he died from injuries received in a Feb. 25th automobile accident near Clinton, South Carolina. The accident that took his life happened when Kevin, who had juvenile diabetes, apparently blacked out returning home from his girlfriend’s home.
He had not eaten anything after playing in a tennis match that afternoon and the combination of exercise and not eating made his sugar level drop dramatically, his parents believe. He was flown to Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital, where he remained in intensive care for eight days before doctors determined he was brain dead.
Shortly before his death, his parents, Don and Susan Adams, made a decision that allowed Kevin to give one final gift to a number of people throughout the United States. They decided to let Kevin be an organ and tissue donor.
"After we knew we weren’t going to have Kevin anymore, (donating his organ and tissues) was the natural thing, knowing Kevin was going to be in heaven. If his organs could help someone else live, it would be worthwhile. It wasn’t Kevin lying on the bed anymore," Don Adams said.
Kevin’s kidneys went to two women in South Carolina – one of them a 24 year old who waited for three years for a transplant. Both of the women were able to stop receiving dialysis after Kevin’s gift.
A Vietnam veteran in Virginia got Kevin’s liver. The 49-year-old man had contracted hepatitis from a blood transfusion he received when he stepped on a land mine.
"At this very moment, somewhere in Ohio, a heart beats. Still beats out the rhythm of life, but its rhythm is Kevin’s. In North Carolina, two lungs…that know how to breathe deeply the miracle of living each moment, sustain another spirit."
"In Virginia, a liver purifies and refines the deep, rich, life-giving stream which courses through the veins of yet another recipient of Kevin’s undying giving. Two kidneys remain in South Carolina and two corneas will bring light to darkened eyes."
- words in eulogy by Kevin's uncle, the Rev. Russ Dean, II
The Clinton Chronicle
Wednesday, May 12th, 1999
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