Kevin Martin steps up

[Mr. E]

http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/ ... /100604025

DRESDEN — When Kevin Martin heard about the tragic death of Kasey King-Thomas this week, he knew he had to do something.

“It just touched my heart to think that this little boy died,” said Martin, who plays for the Houston Rockets. “No one deserves anything like this to happen to them, and the family seems so generous and kind themselves that I just had to do something.”

Kasey, 6, died after the Tri-Valley Local School Bus 26 he was riding on crashed into a light pole and rolled over Wednesday morning.

The Zanesville High School graduate is helping Kasey’s family by donating money for funeral costs.

Joe Thomas, Kasey’s stepfather, said he and his family are extremely grateful to Martin and the entire community for their support.

“It’s just awesome that Kevin Martin is doing this for us,” Thomas said. “I can’t get over how extremely generous he is.”

Martin is also in support of a law requiring seat belts on school buses.

“I’m 100 percent behind this effort,” Martin said. “I just hope the legal system and government move quickly on it and not sit back and wait for another tragedy like Kasey.”

Thomas said his wife, Randi, would like the law to be called “Kasey’s Law,” in memory of her son.

“It’s very important to us that this happens,” Thomas said. “Kasey was such a special child. We don’t want another family to go through the suffering we are.”

Kasey was a child that made his presence known wherever he was, Thomas said.

“The last thing he’d do as he left in the morning for the bus stop was slam the door,” Thomas laughed. “You always knew it was Kasey going out the door by the slam.”

Kasey also loved to play with his younger sister, Karlee, and younger brother, Kolton, said Thomas.

“When we’d have bonfires, you had to smile when Kasey came because he always drug his pillow and blanket down to the fire,” Thomas said. “And he loved to play anything that was attached to Star Wars. He’d even memorize the commercials and tell us about them.”

Kasey was on the Tri-Valley Youth Soccer Team and couldn’t get enough of airplanes or going with Thomas to Springfield, where Thomas is with the Ohio National Air Guard.

“He just loved to watch me work on the airplanes,” Thomas remembered. “Anything about planes fascinated Kasey.”

When Kasey walked into a room, Thomas said the first thing you noticed were his big, blue eyes and dark hair.

“He was a sweetheart,” Thomas said, his voice cracking. “Everyone needs to write their congressman or the governor and get Kasey’s Law passed quickly. It’s not just for the children in our community, but children all over.”

Martin said the City of Zanesville dedicated June 2 as Kevin Martin Day several years ago.


“From now on, in my heart, that day will be Kasey King-Thomas Day,” Martin said. “I think it’s appropriate that I hand that day over to Kasey.”

[Rendezvous]

That was very nice and thoughtful deed done by Kevin Martin. Props.

[KiDdFrESh]

To be honest with all the upgrades school busses have gotten since I been in school. I mean they got new busses with tinted windows & AC I am surprised they havent gotten seat belts on em yet. Personally as a parent I hope they change that by the time my boi is in school.