Special Olympic Athlete, Friend Of Governor, Loses Battle With Leukemia
BALTIMORE (WJZ)--He lost his battle with leukemia, but won the hearts of all who knew him, including Governor Larry Hogan.
The two became friends when the special olympian and governor were being treated for cancer.
Jessica Kartalija has more on how the athlete is being remembered.
To those who knew him, Jimmy Myrick Jr. was incredible.
Governor Larry Hogan, diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, met the 33-year-old Special Olympics athlete when the two were being treated at the University of Maryland Medical Center. The two became fast friends.
"My heart is broken," he said. "The world is a better place because of Jimmy Myrick, Jr. And for me, it was an honor to know him."
"He had the most infectious smile, the most grateful heart and was always concerned about how you were doing," said Jim Schmutz, President & CEO, Maryland Special Olympics.
A graduate of Parkdale High School, Jimmy competed as a champion swimmer and basketball player with the Special Olympics and was also the first to cheer on his fellow Olympians, like his close friend, Adam Hays.
"He would always crack jokes and always got us pumped up to go out in the water," says Hays.
Jimmy was a founding member of the Super Plungers--a group of Special Olympians who took the polar bear plunge to a new level--taking the dip in the Chesapeake every hour for 24 hours.
The governor recently visited Jimmy in the hospital presenting him with the first ever Maryland Courage Award for his commitment to the polar bear plunge.
"When people are having a bad day, they will be able to think about Jimmy Myrick, and it will bring a smile to their face, it will brighten their day, and he'll be watching from up above. Smiling from up above, knowing he made a difference," said Schmutz. "That will be his lasting legacy."
Jimmy's funeral is scheduled for Friday.
The governor is expected to attend. The governor says he will also participate in the polar bear plunge next year, in Jimmy's honor.
Jimmy was also part of the leukemia and lymphoma and the national down syndrome societies.
