Chris Hixon

A hero is defined as a person admired for achievements and noble qualities. Christopher Brent Hixon proved to be just that on Feb. 14, 2018, when his heroism and bravery in the face of danger saved the lives of the students and faculty he considered family. Chris Hixon is survived by his wife, Debbi Hixon, and his children, Jennifer, Jessica, Thomas and Corey Hixon.

Hixon was born on Feb. 25, 1968 and was 49 years old. He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, along with his brother, Richard Hixon, and sister, Natalie Hixon. He attended Easton High School until his sophomore year and graduated from Pleasant Valley High School in Broadheadsville, Pennsylvania.

In 1986, at the age of 18, Hixon joined the Navy, eventually moving into the Naval Reserves. Over the course of his experience in the military, he served in the Persian Gulf War during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield.

In 2007, he was deployed to Iraq as a U.S. Navy Reservist. Hixon retired from service in October of 2013, at the age of 44, with a decorated and distinguished record. His naval accolades include the three Navy Achievement Medals, a Good Conduct Medal, a Navy Reserve Meritorious Service Medal and a Navy Reserve Medal.

“He was adventurous; we had some very exciting adventures. He was the kind of person who was always up for trying anything, even if it was outside his comfort zone,” Debbi Hixon said in an interview with People Magazine. “He was a military man who loved serving his country. He was active duty and served in the Persian Gulf, but then switched to the reserves after we had kids. He wanted to be a part of his family.”

Hixon’s family proved to be as unique as he was, with his adopted daughters Jennifer and Jessica, his youngest son, Corey, and his older son Thomas, who followed in his father’s military footsteps and joined the Marine Corps in 2011.

Hixon’s career as an educator began at Blanche Ely High School, where he served as the athletic director and security monitor. He then transitioned to South Broward High School, also serving as an athletic director. While working at Blanche Ely, Hixon met his friend and colleague Allen Held, who is currently the wrestling coach at Cypress Bay High School.

“[I] met him in the early 1990s when he was the wrestling coach at Ely and I was at Hallandale. As my athletic director at South Broward, Chris would always find a way to get whatever we needed done,” Held said. “He would always step up when called upon for anything. As a friend he was always genuine; he was always willing to help and make sure that everyone felt comfortable in whatever we were doing.” Hixon came to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2014 to be the head athletic director. In this role, he organized sports schedules and coordinated logistics for the multitude of sports events that take place at MSD.

“You know, I’ve know Mr. Hixon for about 20 years; Chris and I go way back. He was an athletic director at Blanche Ely back when I was an athletic director at another school, so I’ve known him for a long time,” Assistant Principal Jeffrey Morford said. “Then, when I became an administrator, I brought him to my school at South Broward to become an athletic director there, and of course when I left South Broward to come [to MSD], I brought him with me here to become our athletic director, so I have a lot of confidence in him. He’s one of the guys who would give the shirt off his back for anybody.”

He was admired by all for his kindness, dedication and hard work as an athletic director and as a security specialist — a role that he picked up when the school was in need of additional staff to patrol campus and monitor threats. When the school needed a fill-in volleyball coach, Hixon was the first to step up. When the school needed a head wrestling coach, Hixon was first in line.

Hixon was more than just a coach to us, he’s family. He was emotional, but he always cared about us and tried to support us.

“You know, the thing he cared about most were our athletes and our kids here, and he would do anything for him, and I think another thing we can say [is] that people don’t realize the hours he puts in as an athletic director, and he never complained about it, and even when we couldn’t find coaches for sports, he would coach the sports for free,” Morford said. “So, I think that kind of says a little bit about him and his character. He was a great husband, and he was a great father, and he was a great friend to me, and he’s going to be missed. We’re just glad that we were able to have him here for the four years we had him.”

Hixon was an amazing role model to many of his students and athletes, and he influenced many young students at MSD and at South Broward as the head wrestling coach. He led the team to many victories and helped the students to develop skills and confidence on the mat.

“At South Broward one year, we were getting ready for the state tournament, and Chris was telling our wrestlers he was going to come in the room and show them how it was done,” Held said. “He came in to practice with his wrestling gear on and wrestled with our two state champions. They got the best of him, but he wouldn’t stop wrestling and kept selling them out. It is a memory that the wrestling teams brings up and was thankful for his support.”

Hixon’s support for his athletes and the students of MSD is evident in his interactions with them and their memories. His encouragement and motivating words drove junior Shane Hoffman to join the wrestling team as a freshman, exemplifying the power behind his words and the passion that he felt for the sport.

“What Mr. Hixon said to be me about fighting to take a stand is why I decided to do wrestling freshman year,” Hoffman said. “He told me to never give up and use every breath in my body as fire and energy to help my team win.”

Hixon’s drive didn’t stop at just that, however. During matches, he could always be found on the side of the mat boosting the morale of his athletes in order to ensure that they did their very best.

“Hixon was more than just a coach to us, he’s family. He was emotional, but he always cared about us and tried to support us as best as he could despite his busy schedule as athletic director and security,” junior Steven Erched said. “I’ll always remember Hixon in [the] corner of all mymatches yelling at me without freaking out because he always had faith in me that I’d pull through and win.”

Hixon was accepting of everyone, allowing sophomore Sarah Ochoa to compete with the boys on the wrestling team and driving her to success through his unbridled encouragement for her. On the day of Hixon’s funeral, the MSD wrestling team competed at Coral Springs High School, determined to push through the trials that they were facing to make their coach proud. Ochoa pulled off a surprise tribute to her beloved coach, pinning a freshman from Monarch High School in just 16 seconds.

“That was for Coach Hixon,” Ochoa said in an interview with ESPN. “He encouraged me, made me feel a part of the team, made me run when I didn’t want to run. All I kept thinking at the funeral was that I would never hear him say, ‘Sara, stop dancing on the mat.’ Oh God, I hope he was watching that.”

In his honor, Hixon’s family has created the Chris Hixon Athletic Scholarship Fund in order to carry on his legacy of helping student athletes. The fund will be awarded to one outstanding student at the three schools Hixon worked at: Blanche Ely, South Broward and MSD. Even now, Hixon will continue to positively influence the lives of young aspiring athletes.

As an athletic director, coach and faculty member, Hixon was and will always be an irreplaceable part of MSD. The impact he had on so many students will always be an unforgettable part of their lives. He leaves behind his family and his children, who will forever love and cherish his dedication to their wellbeing and success. The MSD family will always hold the contributions that Hixon made to this school dear to their hearts, and he will live on forever as a hero. Story by Nikhita Nookala and Mady Kravitz; photos courtesy of Debbi Hixon