All who saw the television feature last Thanksgiving on former Mountaineer Chris Henry were touched when the story was told of the decision of Henry’s mother to donate Chris’ organs to people in need following his untimely death.
One person who was deeply affected after seeing that story was Henry’s former WVU and Cincinnati Bengals teammate Quincy Wilson. Wilson was inspired to try and do something to help Henry’s family and the children he left behind.
"I knew Chris when he first came to West Virginia," Wilson recalled. "He was a grey shirt so he had to sit out his first season. I remember this tall, skinny kid who quickly proved to everyone that he was the real deal once he got on to the field.
"I was fortunate enough to play with him again in Cincinnati ," Wilson said. "I pretty much watched him grow up. Chris was on the turn around (when he died.) He had his troubles but he had really turned his life around."
Wilson and former Mountaineer Grant Wiley have organized a free youth football clinic set for Pro Performance at Mylan Park in Morgantown Tuesday, July 12 starting at 8 a.m. Players can register at Pro Performance on the morning of the camp. Wilson says several former Mountaineer players have agreed to take part and donate their time in memory of Henry.
"I reached out to several former Mountaineer greats," Wilson said. "Patrick White, Owen Schmidt, Pat McAfee, Jarrett Brown and Rasheed Marshall, just to name a few.
"Everyone I’ve talked to has been supportive," Wilson said. "That’s been great because the philosophy is always ‘once a Mountaineer, always a Mountaineer.’ You really find that out when you reach out to people for an event like this.
The group will come together again Tuesday evening at Morgantown High School starting at 6:30 p.m. for a celebrity auction and basketball game. Wilson promises autographs, pictures and a lot of bad basketball.
"I’m sure there will be a bunch of three point shots taken," Wilson joked. "I hope the game gets out of the 50’s.
"It should be a great time with the guys getting together with the fans. It will be festive atmosphere and you will be able to talk with the guys and be with the guys and get what ever you wanted signed.
"And it’s for a great cause," Wilson added.
Tickets for the basketball game are $10 and can be purchased at the gate at Morgantown High School on the evening of July 12.