JOHNSTON CITY - Tuesday marked the 11th Annual Michael Dean Memorial Blood Drive at Johnston City High School. And many students and community residents were more than happy to roll up their sleeves and donate a pint of blood in remembrance of Dean.
Dean died in a car wreck in 2006. He was only 25 years old. As a JCHS student, he routinely volunteered for blood drives at the school campus. He was also active in the community, serving as a radio announcer for Marion High School ballgames and as a member of the First Christian Church of West Frankfort. He was also a teacher at Sesser-Valier High School.
Dean's parents, Jimmy and Donette, came up with the idea of hosting the blood drive to honor their son.
Brenda Mummert, health occupations CNA instructor at JCHS and blood drive coordinator, said the school was going to come close to making its goal of 65 units of blood.
"We could use a few more donors, but we're close," she said.
Mummert, whose son was good friends with Dean, said she includes the blood drive as part of her classroom instruction, even establishing a Blood Drive Committee.
"The kids have done an excellent job with it," she said. "These blood drives are important as the only source of blood is from humans. We definitely need donors."
Mummert added that Dean's father visited with donors and students for a couple of hours during the drive.
