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Chris Hixon, wrestling coach and athletic director, among those killed in Florida high school shooting

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by Various sources

Numerous media reports have confirmed that Chris Hixon, 49, the athletic director at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida and a wrestling coach, were among the victims killed at the mass shooting at the school.


Hixon was the Broward County Athletic Association’s Athletic Director of the Year last year.


Originally from Easton, Pa. area, Hixon competed in wrestling and has coached the sport in Florida for many years. He served in the U.S. military, deployed to Iraq as a U.S. Naval Reservist.


According to local media, Hixon is survived by a wife, Debra, and a son with special needs. A Go Fund Me site has been set up for the family of Chris Hixon.

Go Fund Me site for Chris Hixon's Family


An excerpt from the story on Hixon from the Sun Sentinel newspaper in Florida is below.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas athletic director and wrestling coach Chris Hixon, who made a strong impression on the students he worked with, was among those shot and killed on Wednesday at the Parkland high school.


Douglas football coach Willis May said Hixon was confirmed dead Thursday morning “a little after” assistant football coach Aaron Feis died around midnight. Hixon was 49.



For the wrestlers he coached, the news was devastating.



“Coach Hixon, for me, was a father figure,” said Karlos Valentin, a senior heavyweight on the team. ”We were pretty much with him six days a week – three-to-four-to-five hours. His loss was just terrible. I feel like I just lost an uncle.



“Coach Hixon was just a hard-working guy. He’ll make you sweat. He’ll make you bleed, but he’s always with you, [whether] you win or you lose.”



Several wrestlers talked about he impact he has on their lives and his character.



“He was such a sweet guy,” senior wrestler Ray Corniel said. “He was known by all the athletic directors and coaches from every team. He would bring us food for all our tournaments and take care of us like we were his own children and just watch over us, let us learn about life lessons.



“He was always hard on us because he treated us like we were his own kids.”



CLICK FOR FULL STORY FROM SUN SENTINEL
Chris Hixon, Florida school shooting victim: Athletic director and wrestling coach


Other media reports on Chris Hixon are below

Coaches Among Those Killed in Florida School Shooting

Chris Hixon: Athletic Director Shot at Florida School Would 'Give You the Shirt off his back."

CNN: These are the victims of the Florida School Shooting

Friends remember Chris Hixon, LV native killed in Florida shooting




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