Remembering Ryan McCall
On March 29, 2015 at approximately 9:45 AM, Riverbend sophomore Ryan McCall crash landed a 1974 Piper single-engine plane shortly after takeoff. McCall was pronounced dead at the scene. He had been learning to fly for a little over a year and his instructors described him as a good pilot. McCall had his pilot’s license and because he was 16 years old and was allowed to fly alone. An investigation has been launched as to why the plane went down; investigators speculate birds in the area were a problem or that the engine failed.
The family has requested privacy during this hard time to grieve, but friends and RHS students showed their support and disbelief on social media using the hashtag #RIPRyanMcCall. Initially, students were going to wear red in his memory. But at the request of the family, friends quickly went to social media and cancelled the idea in respect for the family.
Ryland Zywiak, a sophomore, lives down the street from McCall and has attended school with him since elementary school. He described him as “fun to be around and a really happy, positive person.” He also said that McCall was “outgoing and [was] always finding something new to do.”
Visitation night will be Thursday April second from 6-8 PM at Covenant Funeral Home at 4 Mile Fork. McCall’s funeral will be held at Spotswood Baptist Church at 11 AM on Friday April third. The McCall family has requested that all who attend wear Dallas Cowboy attire.
The school’s thoughts and prayers are with the McCall family and Ryan’s friends.
