‘He had a heart of gold’ | Dugger Union principal speaks on the drowning of student

DUGGER, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — On Saturday, the body of 15-year-old Merom resident and Dugger Union student Lex Brown was recovered from the Wabash River.

Dugger Union Jr./Sr. High School Principal Darin Simpson said Lex was all about family.

“Everything with lex was family oriented,” Simpson said. “Whenever he was asked about what his hobbies were, he was either going fishing with his little brother or teaching his little brother how to do this or that. His plan after high school was to own his own shop so he could work with his mom.”

He said on the surface, Lex was as tough as they come.

“Lex put on the tough guy front,” Simpson said. “He would put on the tough guy front, but the teachers and the assistant principals saw through that.”

Simpson said if you were his friend, there was no one better to have in your corner.

“Everything he did was because he had a strong friend group,” Simpson said. “He liked to stand up for his friends and what he believed in, so he put on that tough guy front, but he had a heart of gold.”

He said that heart is something that will be remembered forever at Dugger Union.

“It has been a rough summer for Dugger Union, but it is one of those things that we get through it together and go on, but never forget,” he said.

There will be a vigil held at the school Monday evening at 6 p.m. where there will be counseling resources present to help those affected. They are asking those who plan to come to bring a flower to give to the family.

They will also accept donations that will go towards funeral costs.

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