R.I.P. James Ragan

Andy Zunz with the heartbreaking news that former Rice golfer James Ragan died on Monday after a 7-year battle with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.

Ragan, who founded Triumph Over Kid Cancer that raised more than $1 million, played two seasons for Rice before withdrawing from school because of the cancer.

Duncan College master Luis Duno-Gottberg met Ragan before while he was a student at one of the 11 residential colleges that make up Rice.

“The day he withdrew from school, he came to say goodbye, and he then engaged in a conversation about politics and philosophy. He was quite a remarkable young man,” Duno-Gottberg said. “In spite of the difficulties he was going through, he always put on his best face and was supportive of other people all the time."

Mike Williams of Rice also wrote a lovely obituary here.Information on making a donation to the foundation can be found here, as can a more extensive rememberance of Ragan's life here. I have put a small donation in the mail tomorrow. I hope, if you're able financially, you'll consider making a contribution to James's cause.