CHAFFEE STUNNED BY DEATH OF STUDENT

CHAFFEE -- The death of 1994 Chaffee High School valedictorian Steven Wayne Goetz, 18, had former teachers and classmates in a somber mood here Thursday.

Goetz collapsed during a pick-up basketball game at the student recreation center at the University of Missouri-Columbia about 8:15 p.m. Wednesday. Emergency medical personnel tried to revive him for 20 minutes at the scene before he was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:29 p.m.

The Boone County medical examiner's office said Goetz apparently suffered heart failure. The cause of death was to be determined by an autopsy Thursday.

Goetz was attending Missouri on a scholarship from Procter & Gamble where his father, Larry, is employed. Goetz was interested in pre-law or law enforcement. He was also the initial recipient of the Pat Eftink Memorial Scholarship, which was named in honor of the first woman ever elected to an office in the Scott County courthouse.

Mick Wessel, who coached Goetz in both football and basketball at Chaffee, called his death tragedy.

"Not only was Steven an outstanding athlete who participated in all the sports, he was an outstanding person and great student to be around," Wessel said.

Wessel said Goetz worked hard as an athlete. "He might not have had the most natural talent, but he used what he had to the best of his ability. It's remarkable and very unusual for a valedictorian to also letter in three sports."

Ed McGrew, high school principal who was Goetz's counselor for four years, said: "He was one of the finest kids I've ever been around -- a total individual. There was a real, quiet dignity about him. He just got the job done without any fanfare -- a real class kid."

Bruce Qualls, who coached Goetz in high school baseball last spring and during the summer on the Senior Babe Ruth team, called Goetz a "dedicated individual."

"He wasn't a perfectionist, but he had high expectations for himself," Qualls said. "He was a great individual who showed good leadership as a senior on the football field and baseball diamond. He was just a good person who was a pleasure to be around.

"He had a real bright future with his intelligence and the way he worked hard," Qualls said. "It's a shame that people like that are taken so young.

Matt Abernathy, president of Chaffee's Class of 1994, said Goetz, class vice president, would do anything for a person if he could. "He was the best person you could ask for. He was real friendly -- a great guy," Abernathy said.

Abernathy, a freshman at Southeast Missouri State University, said he expects most of Chaffee's Class of 1994 to make it home for the funeral.

Jeanette Wachter, senior class sponsor last year, said it was difficult for her to teach fourth period Thursday since Goetz had been in her independent studies class at that time last year.

"Anyone would have been very proud to have him as a son," Wachter said. "When I said goodbye to my own 4-year-old son this morning, I did it with a little more intensity than usual.

"Steven was a good kid."