Loving Memory
Our Veteran, Friend & Board Member
Stephen Racz
May 12, -April 12 2022
Stephen joined the Air Force after receiving his college degree. He was stationed at Peterson Field, Colorado Springs; Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, AK; and Andrews AFB, Camp Springs, MD (where he got to tour Air Force One). he played semi pro football in 2001 for the Bowling Green Blitz (He would include "I was the oldest player on the team" ),
In fact, he was the oldest active player in the entire country at age 55. He also coached football at Bourbon County Middle School. He helped with Wayne County Middle School Football Team after school.
In recent years, he was an English and Science teacher at Forest Hill Military Academy in Millersburg, Kentucky, before they closed. He has also been a long-term substitute in the Paris Independent School system. He served as a paraprofessional for three years working with special needs students at Cane Ridge Elementary School in Bourbon County before retiring. In addition, he retired from the Paris, Kentucky, Police Department with over 1,000 hours of training, handling criminal investigations. Stephen also completed his ministry degree
Back in 2015- I received a phone call from Stephen about boarding horses here on my farm in Bourbon Co. our conversation will be forever cherished and then connecting dots come to find that Stephen knew my family for years as we carried on our conversation laughing how small the world truly is
how he knew my uncle's and my mother then learning that he worked as a police officer here in Paris, Ky from that year forward our friendship grew. I sent him to Moss Landing and a few other places for him to find boarding for his adopted babies
Soon after I am out taking pictures of him with them and we started a beautiful friendship
Stephen decided to jump on board and was thrilled about Reins of Hope Kentucky and he would be there for us (me) when ever we needed. He helped educate us about veterans and connected us to some wonderful people and he did not hesitate to jump on the chance to be a voice for veterans and join us. His move caused us to communicate by phone calls and occasional text messages, I was so concerned when he became ill and knew that once he was better he be back in the saddle, but life happens and I received the news that he had passed. One thing I was not wanting to hear.
He played a huge role in my nonprofit and I plan to continue forward in memory of him and his service to serve for our military .
one thing I knew he wanted was to form Wheels of Hope Kentucky for veterans and I plan to incorporate that with Reins of Hope Kentucky, inc. in honor of his life and his selfless sacrifice for our country.
He touched so many lives and never did he meet a stranger. If you never met him, you sure have missed out on such a beautiful soul and an awesome friend
I am so grateful our trails crossed and a beautiful friendship came from it
it's not good bye, I will see you again my friend
`Love Michelle
