“You’ll have that.”
Kirk Maddox, who was a Health and Human Performance major at UTM until his death on April 20, and his best friend, Nathan Rich, a senior Management major, were known to utter this phrase when something went wrong, was unplanned, or was broken.
Rather than letting it upset them, they would adopt a just-roll-with-it attitude.
“You weren’t allowed to be in a bad mood around him…You couldn’t anyways,” said Kirk’s girlfriend, Olivia Reagan.
Olivia, also a senior Health and Human Performance major, will always remember Kirk for his personality and character. He could quickly brighten a room with a silly dance, goofy laugh or corny joke, all of which were accompanied by a bright smile that, alone, could change someone’s day, she said.
Now, Kirk’s familiar phrases are bittersweet reminders of his life for his friends and family, even though he spent his final moments doing what he loved with someone close to his heart.
According to a UTM Public Safety’s report, Kirk was running with Olivia on campus. He fell behind, and she realized he was lying on the sidewalk. She performed CPR until he began breathing on his own and the paramedics arrived.
Kirk was then transported to the hospital in Martin, where he died.
Kirk was a member of SHAPE club and the National Society of Leadership and Success. The university honored him during the 2020 virtual spring commencement ceremony on May 2 by awarding his degree posthumously.
Before announcing the names of spring graduates, UTM Chancellor Keith Carver spoke to those mourning Kirk’s loss.
“To the members of Kirk’s family and the many, many friends, faculty members and administrators that he touched, please know that it is our honor and privilege to grant Kirk his degree today, best wishes to all of Kirk’s family and friends.”
Kirk loved exercise with such a passion that it led him to choose the HHP major. He aspired to be a hands-on physical therapist.
“He had such a passion for PT and was so determined to get into PT school. He loved all things health and fitness related,” Olivia said.
His knowledge of the human body was something Kirk was always equipped with and ready to share. These quick comments could sometimes even become lectures that showed his love for health and exercise.
“If you asked him about a muscle or anything similar in the human body, you could expect a quip about it, or even a lecture,” said Ethan Thomas, Kirk’s older brother and also UTM graduate.
While his love for his studies and desired career field were important to Kirk, his interests extended beyond the classroom.
His closest friends, Olivia and Nathan, said Kirk cherished any time spent with friends and family. He loved to go on walks and spend time with Olivia and their dog, whom he called his “sweet girls.”
Many call themselves Kirk’s friends. He would talk to anyone and everyone whom he came across. Kirk’s brother, girlfriend, and best friend all say that once he met someone, Kirk considered that person his friend.
In addition to his love for health and exercise, Kirk was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed everything from fishing, to hunting, to anything else that involved being outside. His brother, Ethan, said that Kirk would be building duck blinds or racing to get to the nearest fishing hole before all the best fish were gone.
Kirk’s love for learning led him to the guitar, which was both a challenge and a passion.
“It wasn’t uncommon for me to come home and find him attempting to learn new chords or songs he loved, whether or not he was successful in it was always hit or miss. He often said learning it was difficult, but it never discouraged him,” Ethan said.
His friends and family say they will remember Kirk’s personality in the smallest things. Ethan and Olivia both spoke fondly of Kirk’s smile; he was known to always wear a grin. They described his smile as contagious because it was hard to resist greeting his smile without smiling back.
“It was a permanent fixture on him. He would still have it even if he was waste deep in mud, or fallen flat on his face. He never seemed to be unhappy, and one would believe it from that grin alone,” Ethan said when describing what first comes to mind when he’s reminded of his brother.
Kirk’s loved ones will miss his witty, corny sense of humor. His girlfriend, Olivia, said that she will always be reminded of comical moments like when Kirk would pop his back and say, ” That was some good cavitation.”
He believed that people should treat others as they want to be treated, which was an idea grounded in his faith. Olivia said that he lived by his favorite bible verse: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
His brother, girlfriend and best friend all described Kirk as a dependable, reliable and dedicated friend, brother and son. He was the kind of friend people called when they were upset, broken down on the side of the road, or in need of any assistance.
“Kirk was just an amazing friend. He was no doubt my best friend, and he helped me through so much. Everyone that knows Kirk knew that he was always willing to do what he could to help and he cared for and loved all his friends,” said Nathan, who has been friends with Kirk since high school.
Ethan believed that his brother’s acts of kindness were done out of pure altruism or just to bring his friends happiness; he never expected anything in return and seemed to enjoy bringing happiness into the lives of those he loved.
“He was honestly the light of my day every day and always will be. … I want people to remember how caring, loving, kind, funny and driven he was and live like him. He has completely changed my life and my outlook on life,” said Olivia.
Kirk will continue to be loved and missed by each of his friends and others whose hearts he touched.
