On July 26, 2006, a young campaign volunteer was struck by a vehicle as he crossed Highway 52. He died the next day of his injuries. Today is the one year anniversary of Kenneth Ramage's death.
He's not forgotten. We still get a good number of google hits every week from people around the country who miss him. And there's a travel fund and scholarship in his name set up by the band boosters at his old school:
The Band Boosters have created a memorial fund to remember and celebrate Kenneth's contributions to The Mayo High School band programs. In consultation with Kenneth's family, the Boosters will help fund band trips for the students who are the most financially limited. Each spring we will also give a small scholarship each year to the student who, like Kenneth, best represents "The Heart of the Band."
If you wish to make a contribution, please pay to the order of the Mayo Band Boosters, add a note that the contribution is in honor of Kenneth, and send the check to Mrs. Jarvis at Mayo High School.
Mrs. Jarvis
Mayo High School
1420 11th Ave SE
Rochester, MN 55904
The Mayo Bands site includes a PB story from last summer:
. . .The accident occurred at 7:14 p.m. Wednesday as Ramage was campaigning for DFL State Rep. Andy Welti in Marion near Rochester. Ramage died Thursday early morning at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester, the county coroner said.
Ramage, who graduated from Mayo High School in June, was a young man with a passion for life and a knack for making items out of chain mail, friends and family said.
"He made this chain mail tie that he wore to our Southtown concerts," said Allison Troutman, a friend and fellow member of the Southtown Singers, a choir group both students performed in for three years.
In addition to being one of the best bass singers Troutman ever has met, she said Ramage was an all-around nice guy who liked to make people laugh and had a passion that set him apart from other students.
His father, Tim, said his son loved to be with people, both his peers and adults.
"He approached people like you were going to be his friend," said Tim Ramage. "He was not naive, but he was not mistrustful."
Ramage was a Boy Scout in Troop 80 and participated in high school band, choir and drama productions, as well as singing for the Southeast Minnesota Honors Choir for seven years.
Artistic Director Michael Culloton said in an e-mail that Ramage "was an extremely hard worker, completely committed to whatever project he was undertaking, and had a sharing spirit that was unparalleled by most of his peers."
The honors choir program was a family affair for Ramage, his parents and two siblings. An office administrator said the entire family put in many hours of dedication with the choir.
"His maturity and deep sense of personal responsibility was extraordinary, and I will miss his presence greatly," Culloton said. . . .
Contributions to the fund would be a fine way to honor Ramage. Another would be to watch carefully for bicyclists. Those out campaigning in the special election, take care of yourselves.
Comments