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Appalachian student death, marks fourth of 2006 |
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Thursday, 11 January 2007 |
by LILLIAN HOGAN
News Editor
R. Clay Ledford, a 22-year-old senior hospitality and tourism major, died Dec.7 at a friend’s apartment.
Ledford was born in Charlotte, raised in Mooresville and was a 2002 graduate of Mooresville High School.
The tragedy marked the fourth Appalachian State University student death of 2006.
Friends of Ledford called 911 the morning of Dec.7 because he was
“unresponsive, not breathing and without a pulse,” Boone Police
Department Detective David W. Osborne said.
Police, emergency medical personnel and the Boone Fire Department were
dispatched to the apartment complex where Ledford had stayed with
friends the night of Dec.6.
Failed attempts were made to revive Ledford.
“He was presumed to be deceased for some time,” Osborne said.
After scene processing, police determined that Ledford had consumed alcohol.
Follow-up medical examinations showed no anatomical cause of death.
Because Ledford did not die of a physical condition, Osborne said, his death might be alcohol related.
However, police are still waiting for lab results to officially report
cause of death and obtain Ledford’s blood alcohol content level.
Dean of Students Susie L. Greene said if Ledford died by asphyxiation, it would be a first at Appalachian.
Ledford’s family is “absolutely distraught,” Greene said. “I called his mom before Christmas and she couldn’t even talk.”
Ledford was expecting to graduate December 2006. His memorial service
was held the same day his graduation ceremony took place, Greene said.
Grandfather Mountain co-workers remember Ledford fondly from his work as an operations intern during summer 2006.
Ledford’s supervisor and Grandfather Mountain President H. Crae Morton
said Ledford would have thrived in the hospitality and tourism industry.
“He took initiative, he understood hospitality and he knew how to treat everyone like a VIP,” Morton said.
Not only did Ledford have a hospitality background from his studies at
Appalachian, “his personality was fit for hospitality; he could put
himself in other people’s shoes,” Morton said. “He was the kind of
person that never met a stranger.
“Clay was one of the most genuinely likable people that I’ve known,” Morton said. “He had a very affectuous smile.”
Osborne, the chief detective working on Ledford’s case, said, “He had a
lot of close friends and family who really cared a lot about him who
have been really helpful, under the circumstances of dealing with such
a tragedy, by taking the time to speak with police.”
At Appalachian, Ledford was a member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity,
involved with youth missions and studied abroad in Australia during
summer 2005.
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