Those words were used to describe Warsaw Community High School senior Brady Houck.
Houck was heading northbound on Ind. 37 early Sunday morning when tragedy struck.
It is believed that Houck fell asleep at the wheel, and his 1995 Chevy Beretta slid in oncoming traffic and struck a 2007 freightliner semi-tractor driven by Jeffery A. Cross, 39, Goshen.
Houck died from injuries as a result of the accident near the Madison/Hamilton County line.
More than 200 friends, family, classmates and teachers attended a candlelight vigil for Houck at Center Lake Park Monday night.
What is meant to be a time of optimism and excitement in the life of a high school senior has turned into reflection and sadness for classmates of Houck.
Houck was a member of Warsaw Tiger football team. His coach and WCHS Assistant Principal Troy Akers spoke to the crowd about Houck.
"He was a great kid," Akers said. "We talk about being a son, student and athlete, and Brady was all three."
Akers talked about how Houck was a team manager as a freshman, then eventually worked his way onto the team.
He worked at both Biomet and Boggs Automotive.
"One of the best kids I've ever met in my life," said Boggs Automotive owner Butch Boggs.
Boggs said he handpicked Houck to work for him more than four years ago in hopes that he'd take over his business some day. Houck instead chose to pursue a machinists job after high school, which Boggs supported.
"He was just a real likeable kid," Boggs said. "It's like a small family over here and it's like we've lost a family member."
Houck enjoyed go-carting, and according to Boggs, was voted most popular driver in his division four years in a row at State Line Speedway where he raced for 10 years.
His full obituary appears on page 3A of today's Times-Union.
