Gatlin5
12-02-2005, 11:01 PM
MXFAMILY: WE HAVE LOST ONE OF OUR OWN: GODSPEED LITTLE WILLIE MCCORMICK; WE WON'T FORGET YOU!
WMF 11/11/2005
GODSPEED WILLIE ?SUPERFLY? MCCORMICK...YOU ARE SORELY MISSED;
THE WILLIE MCCORMICK YOUTH FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED
Willie "Superfly" McCormick #119 age 10 years old died on October 8th, 2005 doing what he loved most in this world racing in a motocross event at the Extreme Motosports complex in Airway Heights, Washington. Willie had been racing since he was four and was determined that one day he would be a pro rider. Willie's favorite rider was Bubba Stewart, but he liked them all and every year at the WASHOUGAL event he would visit every pro rider in attendance. Willie was not a shy little boy and at one event in Idaho he once advised a pro rider who had finished badly that all he had to do was get his rear end off his bike seat and ride harder and perhaps he might finish higher.
Willie had made many friends during his brief life and was a favorite in the racing community. His given name was Heath William Hutchings, but he adopted his step-dad's last name and became Willie "Superfly" McCormick. The track announcer at Airway Heights would rather have called him "Downtown Willie Mac" because as he once said, "Willie reminded him of a downtown kind of kid.", but Willie would have none of that. Beyond the racing arena Willie was also a favorite among his playmates, but stood out in all of our minds because of his willingness to reach out to those who normally are pushed aside because they couldn't do all or some of what other kids did.
On one occasion a young boy mentioned to Willie that he had no friends to which Willie said, "You don't have any friends? No problem, I'll be your friend." On the Monday after his death Willie's mom went to his school to help the children cope with what had occurred and when she was introduced to the class as Willie's mom a little boy in a wheel chair tried to stand up and hug her. This was one of the unacceptables Willie had befriended when no one else would play with him. Willie was that way. Little kids followed him around and he always made time for them. Willie loved our country's flag and the pledge of allegiance. Willie loved animals and they loved him back.
In Willie's memory the family is in the process of establishing the Willie McCormick Youth Foundation as a means to help other boys and girls like Willie to live out their dreams and passions.
Willie wore glasses, but that need wasn't discovered until he was almost 7 years old so one of the goals of the foundation will focus on early childhood vision testing. Scholarships for all types of activities will be awarded to boys and girls who might not otherwise be able to participate will be provided through the foundation. The activities will be in all areas of life to include sports, creative arts, tutoring for boys and girls struggling in school, etc...The family is also forming McCormick Racing and the young boys and girls who become team members will become part of Team Superfly.
The family is setting up this 501c organization in a way that will preclude any of us from having access to the actual funding, but will maintain final approval authority. Once an official web-site is established financial records will be available for review to all who are interested. We have already secured an excellent motocross rider who will provide instruction free of charge two or three times a year for young boys and girls just beginning their special journey called motocross/supercross.
Other inquires are being made to secure specialists in areas where we might eventually be able to provide services to other young boys and girls.
Willie's death ended his personal dream to become a pro rider, but his family remains committed to the sport and to helping someone who might not otherwise have had an opportunity to become a pro (rider, writer, singer, teacher, etc.) to realize their dream and in the process continue what we believe Willie would have done with his life.
WMF 11/11/2005
GODSPEED WILLIE ?SUPERFLY? MCCORMICK...YOU ARE SORELY MISSED;
THE WILLIE MCCORMICK YOUTH FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED
Willie "Superfly" McCormick #119 age 10 years old died on October 8th, 2005 doing what he loved most in this world racing in a motocross event at the Extreme Motosports complex in Airway Heights, Washington. Willie had been racing since he was four and was determined that one day he would be a pro rider. Willie's favorite rider was Bubba Stewart, but he liked them all and every year at the WASHOUGAL event he would visit every pro rider in attendance. Willie was not a shy little boy and at one event in Idaho he once advised a pro rider who had finished badly that all he had to do was get his rear end off his bike seat and ride harder and perhaps he might finish higher.
Willie had made many friends during his brief life and was a favorite in the racing community. His given name was Heath William Hutchings, but he adopted his step-dad's last name and became Willie "Superfly" McCormick. The track announcer at Airway Heights would rather have called him "Downtown Willie Mac" because as he once said, "Willie reminded him of a downtown kind of kid.", but Willie would have none of that. Beyond the racing arena Willie was also a favorite among his playmates, but stood out in all of our minds because of his willingness to reach out to those who normally are pushed aside because they couldn't do all or some of what other kids did.
On one occasion a young boy mentioned to Willie that he had no friends to which Willie said, "You don't have any friends? No problem, I'll be your friend." On the Monday after his death Willie's mom went to his school to help the children cope with what had occurred and when she was introduced to the class as Willie's mom a little boy in a wheel chair tried to stand up and hug her. This was one of the unacceptables Willie had befriended when no one else would play with him. Willie was that way. Little kids followed him around and he always made time for them. Willie loved our country's flag and the pledge of allegiance. Willie loved animals and they loved him back.
In Willie's memory the family is in the process of establishing the Willie McCormick Youth Foundation as a means to help other boys and girls like Willie to live out their dreams and passions.
Willie wore glasses, but that need wasn't discovered until he was almost 7 years old so one of the goals of the foundation will focus on early childhood vision testing. Scholarships for all types of activities will be awarded to boys and girls who might not otherwise be able to participate will be provided through the foundation. The activities will be in all areas of life to include sports, creative arts, tutoring for boys and girls struggling in school, etc...The family is also forming McCormick Racing and the young boys and girls who become team members will become part of Team Superfly.
The family is setting up this 501c organization in a way that will preclude any of us from having access to the actual funding, but will maintain final approval authority. Once an official web-site is established financial records will be available for review to all who are interested. We have already secured an excellent motocross rider who will provide instruction free of charge two or three times a year for young boys and girls just beginning their special journey called motocross/supercross.
Other inquires are being made to secure specialists in areas where we might eventually be able to provide services to other young boys and girls.
Willie's death ended his personal dream to become a pro rider, but his family remains committed to the sport and to helping someone who might not otherwise have had an opportunity to become a pro (rider, writer, singer, teacher, etc.) to realize their dream and in the process continue what we believe Willie would have done with his life.