Garrett Luce, a beloved Aggie, friend and son, will be honored Tuesday at Silver Taps in the final remembrance ceremony of the semester.
Garrett was a freshman business administration major from Houston and a member of the Kappa Alpha Order Fraternity at Texas A&M. He was active in his church and spent time as a counselor and baseball coach at a summer camp in Missouri.
Garrett was the perfect kid, said his father, Joe Luce. He was outgoing and got along with everyone. I will always remember his amazing smile.
Garrett died Nov. 4 after he was struck by a passing train next to the 100 block of Wellborn Road. His fraternity brothers, friends and other Aggies honored Luce with a candlelight-vigil ceremony on Nov. 8, in which hundreds of students gathered to pay their respects.
As a child, Garrett always had a close relationship with his parents. The Saturday before Garretts accident was Kappa Alpha Orders Mother-Son weekend. Garrett and his mother, Janell, spent the day with each other.
Garrett was a loyal friend who cared for those around him and loved his parents, his friends and his lord Jesus Christ, said Ben Riggle, freshman engineering technology major. For me, Garrett will always be remembered as my oldest friend and as someone I could ask anything of and entrust him with anything.
Garrett was also passionate about baseball. His love for the game helped him become a standout player in high school and carried him to one year of play at the College of Charleston before transferring to A&M. He also sang in his schools choir and acted in theatrical performances.
Garrett transferred to A&M in the fall of 2012 to major in business administration. He was accepted into the Business Honors program and awarded the Beatty Business Scholarship.
Garrett crossed boundaries, said Joe. Not only did Garrett play baseball at an extremely high level, but he also sang in the high school choir and was in the Mays Business Honors program.
Throughout the summer, Garrett worked for two months as a counselor and baseball coach at K2 summer camp, a part of Kanakuk Kamps in Lampe, Mo.
Garrett loved and poured into his campers and he bonded and shared life with his coworkers, said David Sargent, sophomore electrical engineering major who worked with Garrett at Kanakuk Kamps. During the short time I knew him, I could see the love of God overflow into his love for others. He had a huge heart and was always smiling.
Garrett influence many people in his life and continues to do so after his death.
As tragic as Garretts death is, his passing has impacted a lot of people, Joe said. Weve heard from students not only from A&M, but from Baylor, Texas, Georgia and the College of Charleston students Garrett had never met but were affected by his death. Garrett was a great kid, but he made a mistake and we just want to remind these students to make smart decisions.
Garrett will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, spirit and most of all for his constant smile, which he greeted everyone with. He is survived by his mother, Janell, and his father, Joe.