In Memory of Charles Follette Jr.

In Memory of Charles Follette Jr.. . On October 2nd, 1942, Charles Follette Jr. was attending a Lincoln High School football game. On that day, the Boy Scouts worked as crowd control, helping to make sure spectators stayed off of the field. Junior (as he was called by his family) was one of those Scouts. The week before that particular game, Junior successfully tried out for the coed cheerleading squad. He asked his father that night if he could just sit in the stands with his friend to enjoy the game since he was going to start with the squad the following week. His father informed him that it was too late to find a replacement on such short notice. Junior accepted his duty and went to the game to assume his post. During the game, the seniors were holding a fundraiser which included wheeling a gasoline powered popcorn roaster around the stadium to sell popcorn. Somehow during the game, the machine caught fire. Junior and his fellow Scouts moved toward the scene to push the crown away from the blaze. While Junior and his fellow Scouts were attempting to push the crowd away from the roaster, a second eruption sprayed them with burning gasoline. Junior's clothes were set afire, and he began to run. Several reports state that a sailor came down from the stands and wrapped Junior in his peacoat to douse the flames. Junior's sister Deanna, who was four years old at the time, remembers hearing him tell their father that he didn't want to die. She also recalls him talking with a fellow injured Scout named Jack Lindgren, saying "Pray, Jackie, Pray!" Junior's father said he was able to walk into the hospital on his own, but his lungs were severely burned and the damage was irreparable. Junior passed away from his wounds that same night. He was 14 years old.