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PITTSBURG —
Pittsburg head football coach Merle Clark may have summed it up best, in his introductory speech at the inaugural Dylan Meier “Get Busy Livin” Run/Walk held Saturday at Hutchinson Field.
“It’s a beautiful day and this is just awesome,” Clark said. “It’s obvious from the turnout today that he meant so much to so many people.
“Today is about more than fundraising. I believe he’d want us to savor one another and our friendships.”
Don’t ask what the world needs . . . Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive!
— Howard Thurman
The event was a celebration of life, with people smiling, laughing, conversing, hanging out and having a good time.
“I’m speechless,” Kerry Meier, Dylan’s younger brother, said. “I’m trying to find the words, but not a whole lot of words come to mind. I’m smiling and I know it’s a good thing. It’s a great feeling from within, from top to bottom. Little kids are having a blast, all the way to my grandpa. He’s got a grin from ear to ear, which makes Dylan happy.”
Friends and family huddled together at various points around Hutchinson Field. Dylan’s favorite sayings could be seen and read, quoting from sources as varied as Aristotle and Jon Krakauer. A stereo system blasted the Band, Jane’s Addiction, Blind Melon, Van Morrison, the Beatles and, perhaps epitomizing the spirit of the day, Van Halen’s “Right Here, Right Now.”
“That’s what it’s all about,” Kerry Meier said. “Bringing all different walks of life together to realize we’re all put here for the same purpose. As unique and different as each individual is, it’s up to each person to find what makes them come alive and go do it. It feels great to come here and honor my brother’s life, which was well-lived, and carry on his spirit, his tradition.”
Clark introduced Pittsburg senior Luke Lee, the first recipient of the Dylan Meier “Get Busy Livin’” Memorial Scholarship — Clark said Lee’s passion for life, embodied by his “always present smile and positive attitude,” made him a deserving first recipient. Lee has been a four-year participant in football, basketball and track, and Lee said that he’s one second away from a school record in the 800-meter run.
Pittsburg head football coach Merle Clark may have summed it up best, in his introductory speech at the inaugural Dylan Meier “Get Busy Livin” Run/Walk held Saturday at Hutchinson Field.
“It’s a beautiful day and this is just awesome,” Clark said. “It’s obvious from the turnout today that he meant so much to so many people.
“Today is about more than fundraising. I believe he’d want us to savor one another and our friendships.”
Don’t ask what the world needs . . . Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive!
— Howard Thurman
The event was a celebration of life, with people smiling, laughing, conversing, hanging out and having a good time.
“I’m speechless,” Kerry Meier, Dylan’s younger brother, said. “I’m trying to find the words, but not a whole lot of words come to mind. I’m smiling and I know it’s a good thing. It’s a great feeling from within, from top to bottom. Little kids are having a blast, all the way to my grandpa. He’s got a grin from ear to ear, which makes Dylan happy.”
Friends and family huddled together at various points around Hutchinson Field. Dylan’s favorite sayings could be seen and read, quoting from sources as varied as Aristotle and Jon Krakauer. A stereo system blasted the Band, Jane’s Addiction, Blind Melon, Van Morrison, the Beatles and, perhaps epitomizing the spirit of the day, Van Halen’s “Right Here, Right Now.”
“That’s what it’s all about,” Kerry Meier said. “Bringing all different walks of life together to realize we’re all put here for the same purpose. As unique and different as each individual is, it’s up to each person to find what makes them come alive and go do it. It feels great to come here and honor my brother’s life, which was well-lived, and carry on his spirit, his tradition.”
Clark introduced Pittsburg senior Luke Lee, the first recipient of the Dylan Meier “Get Busy Livin’” Memorial Scholarship — Clark said Lee’s passion for life, embodied by his “always present smile and positive attitude,” made him a deserving first recipient. Lee has been a four-year participant in football, basketball and track, and Lee said that he’s one second away from a school record in the 800-meter run.
“I didn’t know him (Dylan) quite as well as everyone else, but he was a student teacher,” Lee said. “He was also a mentor in football. I played catch with him a few times. I got to know him a little better.
“He did a lot in his 26 years. He went to K-State, played football in Europe and went all over the world. He’s a good person to look up to.”
Dennis Meier, Dylan’s father, said the community support touches him and he added people regularly come up and tell him their Dylan stories.
“Dylan’s here with us someplace,” Dennis Meier said. “He’s sneaking around somewhere and he keeps an eye on what’s going on.”
Dennis Meier said his son traveled extensively, writing notes on his journeys and was an avid reader, all parts of the whole zest for life aesthetic.
Everyone dies, but not everyone lives . . . life is not where you are today or where you’ve been. It’s the journey we seek . . . where are you going?
—DQM Journal
The core of a man’s spirit comes from new experiences.
—Jon Krakauer, “Into the Wild”
Anthony Perez, one of the event organizers, said he knew Dylan since the second grade, played sports together with Dylan all the way through Pittsburg High School, and kept in good touch until Dylan’s passing last year.
Perez said over 550 people registered for Saturday’s events and estimates a turnout of 600-700, which he calls a testament to Dylan and the impact he made on people’s lives.
“All the time I think about Dylan,” Perez said. “There are times I find myself sitting on the couch, not doing anything, being bored and times like that, I say ‘There’s something I could be doing.’ There’s numerous times on weekends where I want to take it easy, but there’s a concert or event somewhere and I’ll go. That’s how Dylan inspired me.”
Perez and high school friends Tyler Scifers and Michael Slack helped organize Saturday’s event and Perez gave thanks to Paul Gill of the Kansas City Sports Foundation for his organizational knowhow and the event’s sponsors, as well as the Meier family.
Dylan is survived by his parents, Dennis and Valerie, and his three brothers, Shad, Adam and Kerry.
“It’s unbelievable,” Dennis Meier said. “Always very proud. You never know when it’s going to get to you, but Tyler, Anthony and all those guys need to take all the credit. They’ve done a heck of a job today.”
“It’s a beautiful start to this foundation,” Kerry Meier said. “It went above and beyond our expectations, which is how Dylan went about his business. He was all about exceeding expectations and breaking down barriers that would limit one’s life. I am so thankful for everybody who came out to support this cause.”
The “Get Busy Livin’” Run/Walk raised funds for the Get Busy Livin’ Foundation and donations go toward promoting avenues that Dylan pursued: student academic/athletic scholarships, sport camp sponsorships, student travel abroad scholarships, community service needs and other activities that motivate, inspire leadership and build character.
For more information about the organization, please visit www.getbusylivin.org or the group’s Facebook page. Any questions can be emailed to getbusylivinfoundation@gmail.com.
