SIDNEY — Brad Horton, of Bellefontaine, committed the last four years of his life to the students and staff at Christian Academy Schools (CAS). He wanted to make an impact on their lives as he served the school as high school principal and athletic director.
On Dec. 16, 2016, Horton was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and notified the faculty at CAS.
In the words of his email to staff on Dec. 30, 2016:
“I am having some reactions to different medications that I am taking right now, so it will be safe to say that I might be tired acting but I plan on being at school Monday morning. I have met with Mrs. Smith and Mr. K and have rearranged some of my responsibilities on dates that I know that I will need to be away from CAS. I would like this to be as seamless as possible. I appreciate all the prayers that I am receiving and I thank you for them, that is what my family and I need. We are good right now in a lot of areas so pity is not something I can handle really well right now but I want you to know how much of a blessing that it is to be affiliated with CAS and you!! I will be in Monday morning to answer any questions so please come my office. I TrueType appreciate all that you have done already and all that you will do in the upcoming months, I am truly blessed. Love you guys, GO EAGLES!! Brad Horton”
Horton kept his word and was at work that day, but that would be his last day at work. On Sunday evening, Feb. 26, Horton, at the age of 53, lost his fight, despite what he and the doctors had expected.
In 1997, Horton graduated from Georgetown College in Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in history and minoring in physical education. While there, he played football, landing a spot with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was not with the Bengals long before a knee injury cut his football career short.
Horton continued participating in football as a high school coach at Benjamin Logan Schools. Horton went on to work with troubled children in group homes. This work with teens helped to prepare him for his eventual position at CAS.
“Brad’s background was just a perfect fit for Christian Academy. He was a strong Christian. He and Mr. Kirkpatrick (elementary principal) had been friends for many years, and they had worked at Adriel. The MRDD board where he was working was reorganized, and so he had lost his job there. He also was a football coach. A really good one. His wife told me this weekend that he felt like he’d really found his calling at CAS. He came on board and did a beautiful job,” said Mary Smith, CAS superintendent.
Horton was responsible for athletics as well as his duties as principal.
“He was exceptionally good with discipline because it wasn’t about the discipline, it was about the relationship. He loved the kids and they knew that. One of the comments on Facebook is ‘He was more like a dad.’ He was a big man, but he was more of a gentle giant,” said Smith.
The “gentle giant” had a great impact on the students at CAS. Autumn Inman, senior, remembers that he would pick on her, but when she was chosen for OCSA volleyball championship, he supported her.
“He cared deeply for you, no matter who you were. When I was chosen, I was really excited but kind of scared. He said not to let fear hold you back from something that could go great. That’s what really got me through that tournament,” said Inman.
Another senior, Jay Curlis, remembers how Horton held him to a high standard because he saw his potential.
“I kind of grew up and matured. Earlier this year I was invited to the Moose Lodge because I won an award. Mr. Horton was asked to come with me, and he told me he was really proud of how I had matured and was becoming a leader like it says in our mission statement. That’s what Mr. Horton’s goal was,” said Curlis.
Curlis, president of the Student Council, wanted to help the Horton family after hearing of the diagnosis. Having had a grandfather who had suffered with cancer, Curlis knew how expensive Horton’s fight would be. His sister, Kayla, had helped raise funds for another faculty member who had fought cancer, and he knew that he could raise money by selling T-shirts. He found the color for esophageal cancer awareness is periwinkle and designed a T-shirt that incorporated Horton’s life verse, 1 Corinthians 9:24. Team Horton was born.
“When I found out about Mr. Horton being sick, I wanted to do something to show our support, to show him how much he means to us. I told Mrs. Smith about my idea, and she said to do it. In the span of about a week and a half, we sold about 220 shirts,” said Curlis.
The group also raised funds with a chili cookoff, a read-a-thon and other fundraisers. The school sold “dress down” passes, which was not previously done in the history of the school.
“Our high school teams were just in the ICSO (Independent Christian Schools of Ohio) conference this year and were given the Christian Character award for varsity boys and girls, and Brad would have been so proud of that. That was important to him. There were seven other schools at the ICSO conference, and every one of those teams did something for the Horton family,” said Smith.
Horton’s influence was not only felt in the middle and high school. Even the kindergarten got involved in supporting him through his fight.
“Brad often read to the kindergarten students. His wife told us that he would get a card from a kindergartner every day, and he so looked forward to those cards,” said Smith.
He also had a great impact on the faculty at CAS. They donated their sick days through the end of the year to carry out his contract while he was unable to work. A new principal will not be hired until the fall.
Horton has three sons, Zach, Mack, and Jacob. Zach will be marrying his fiancee, Susan, in June.
Horton married his wife, Kandie, on June 19, 2004. Their relationship was a whirlwind.
“He and I had a mutual friend, and we were working out together. Brad told him he thought I was cute, and our friend said something to me. I told him to go ahead and give him my number. My friend gave him my number, and Brad thought it was a fake number and he was pulling a fast one. My friend said it was really my number and that I wanted him to call me. Brad still didn’t believe him, so when we were done working out, I walked up to Brad, put my hand on my hip and said, ‘Listen here. That is my number, and if you don’t call me, that would be unfortunate for all of us.’ He called me the next night. We started going out in November, we were engaged in January, and we were married in June,” remembers Kandie.
Horton and his wife attended Hillcrest Baptist Church in Bellefontaine, where he was involved as a Sunday school teacher, softball coordinator, and Bible school activities coordinator. Horton was also involved in Praise Team and various mission activities.
“Brad had a great desire for the kids to know Christ and to make him known. He would tell them to be a bright, shining beacon. What was important to him was to let others see Christ in us,” said Kirkpatrick.
Horton was in the hospital on Saturday, and the doctors did not believe he would make it through the night. He passed away around 9 p.m. Sunday.
“God was very gracious and decided we didn’t need to do this (fight the cancer) anymore. Brad was really on the go, and the last two months he wasn’t able to do that. That wasn’t living for him, so it was time for him,” said Kandie.
Funeral services will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Bellefontaine. Visitation hours at Eichholtz Funeral Home, Bellefontaine, are Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m.
