NCTC marks one-year anniversary of tragic bus accident

September 26, 2014 is a day that North Central Texas College will never forget.

NCTC President Dr. Brent Wallace called it the single biggest tragedy in the 90-plus year history of the college.

It was on that day a year ago that four members of the NCTC Lady Lions softball team were killed when a semi-truck crossed a median on Interstate 35 in Southern Oklahoma and struck the team's bus.

Killed in the accident were Lady Lion players Brooke Deckard, Katelyn Woodlee, Jaiden Pelton and Meagan Richardson.

"North Central Texas College wishes to express that our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the parents, family and friends of our four Lady Lions lost in a tragic bus crash this time last year," Dr. Wallace said this week. "We continue to be mindful of how fragile life is and how precious each moment is with our family and friends."

A memorial has been constructed at Darwin Field, the home of the Lady Lions on the NCTC Gainesville campus. Plaques on four columns honor the four players. Their numbers are also displayed on the front of the memorial. The Gainesville Police Association donated four benches that have been placed at the memorial. Each bench includes the name and number of one of the players.

A special scholarship was set up at NCTC to honor the four players. The NCTC Angels in the Infield Scholarship Fund is up to $53,621.84 with donations coming in from all over the country. A special alumni game held last November that featured softball superstars like Jennie Finch, Danielle Lawrie, Lauren Lappin, Cheri Kempf, Taylor Hoagland, Amanda Scarborough and Lauren Chamberlain raised more than $19,000 for either the scholarship fund or the Family Benefit Fund.