Welch Athlete Killed By Train Remembered For Faith, Caring

A Welch High School student is dead, after being hit and killed by a train this weekend. Logan Hankins, 16, was jogging on the train tracks while wearing headphones.

"Just an all-around amazing young man," said Kate Nair, Logan's youth minister.

In a high school of just over 100 students, the death of Logan Hankins is like losing a family member. Logan's youth minister, Katie Nair, said the sophomore always carried a smile and would often go out of his way to talk with younger students.

"You don't find teenagers very often that care that much, to pour into little kids, 5- and 4-year-olds," she said.

After learning of his death Sunday, dozens of classmates gathered at Logan's church to remember the football, basketball and baseball player.

On Monday, during class, councilors were joined by pastors from the community, like Tyson Wynn, to help students deal with the loss.

 4/8/2013 Related Story: Craig County Teen Killed By Train While Jogging On Tracks

"He was the kind of kid that was everyone's friend," Wynn said.

He said Logan was passionate about his faith, and said the posts from other students on Facebook show that it could be seen in his actions.

"I had more respect for you than any other person that I went to school with. You taught me more lessons in how you carry yourself and your attitude," one read.

Logan's principal said the 16-year-old was a model student, and had just been accepted to the Afton Vo-tech school of math and science.

"He was a happy young man, very, very intelligent, hard worker," said Welch High School Principal Bruce Chrz.

He said Logan had aspirations to play college football, and had just left the gym when he went for a jog on the train tracks.

"It's very hard on your staff, it's very hard on your students," Chrz said.

Logan's principal said it will take time to get over this tragedy. But those who knew him well, say he's gone on to a better place.

"Everything Logan did was exactly about where God was leading him," said Youth Pastor Katie Nair. "You don't find young people like that very often."

The school has canceled track events and baseball games this week, leading up to Logan's funeral. It will be held at the Civic Center in Welch at 10 a.m., Thursday morning.