J.J. Pearce High School alumni, who graduated in the mid- to late-1970s, gathered on the school's soccer field on May 1. After their friend and fellow teammate, Rob Harper of Carrollton, died in January, members of the group began efforts to establish an award and memorial fund in his honor.(Photo by Heather Noel/neighborsgo)
Rob Harper had a passion for soccer.
From his days playing in Richardson and at J.J. Pearce High School to coaching and refereeing youth soccer in Carrollton, the game played at part throughout his life.
Rob Harper
The real-estate developer died at 52 in January from a blood clot because of complications after a skiing accident. After their friend’s death, fellow J.J. Pearce alums Tommy Jones and Brad Scott, as well as others who knew Harper on and off the field, were called to do something in honor of their friend and former teammate.
When I first talked with Jones and Scott earlier this spring they were working to establish an award in Harper’s honor at Pearce. At the time they mentioned plans to also create a memorial fund to fulfill Harper’s wish to help more kids have the opportunity to play soccer.
“We want to make a difference for kids in the North Texas area that want to play soccer,” Scott told me earlier this year. “We want to give them an avenue to play soccer, find a team and have the experience and build the relationships that we had.”
Now, the Rob Harper Memorial Fund has been established under the FC Dallas Foundation. The intent of the fund is to provide financial support to at-risk and underprivileged youth who wish to play soccer on the recreational level.
In partnership with the FC Dallas Foundation and the Friends of Rob, a sporting clay tournament Friday at Elm Fork Shooting Sports in Dallas will be the first major fundraiser for the memorial fund.
Jones said given this is the first time for the event, he didn’t know quite what to expect.
“When we set out to do this we weren’t sure how much money we were going to raise, but it looks like we are going to be raising at least $35,000,” Jones said.
Money from the fund will be dispersed by the FC Dallas Foundation, but Jones said he has requested funds are first focused on soccer associations in Richardson and Carrollton.
“That’s where he had his involvement both as a player growing up, as a coach, as a referee and just a parent watching his kids,” Jones said.
The plan is to make the sporting clay tournament an annual event. Jones said there may also be other events in the future that will raise money for the memorial fund.
“We are really focused on this event, but we will come up with something probably quarterly,” Jones said.
TEXAS SHOOTOUT
When: 9 a.m. Friday
Where: Elm Fork Shooting Sports, 10751 Luna Road in Dallas
Cost: $150 per a shooter
More info: fcdallas.com/community/txshootout