Life Story

The following is adapted from Logan's high school autobiography, "My Life."

It was a cold snowy night on January 24, 1988, in Mason City, Iowa, when I came into the world at 6:46 p.m. I was born with jaundice and when I came home from the hospital my parents would lay me by the window in the sun every day for 20 minutes. I had an older brother, Levi, who was excited to have me as a little brother. I attended Hoover Elementary in Mason City and became friends with everyone in my class.

In kindergarten, I moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, which was one of my favorite cities to live in. I made the coolest friends there. During second grade, my family went on a vacation to Disney World and I had one of the best times of my life. I also went to Raleigh, North Carolina, to visit my aunt and uncle. My favorite part of North Carolina was the Appalachian Mountains.

Two years later I moved back to Mason City. The biggest incident I remember from fourth grade was getting 100% on my States test without studying. My teacher and everyone else thought I was a genius. The truth was I wasn't. As a matter of fact all the states abbreviations were on my pencil box. My pencil box was a map of the USA with all the states written in. Out of five times we took that test, she never spotted that pencil box. She was amazed at how I not only knew all the states but their abbreviations as well. However, towards the last two tests the top of the pencil box broke off and fell on the floor somewhere in the halls of Hoover School. When I got the tests I had no idea where anything went and I barely passed them. The teacher couldn't believe how I went from getting 100% and knowing the abbreviations to getting 60%. She thought I was bored and wasn't challenged. I never told her the truth, and I'm glad I didn't.

In school I signed up for every sport you could sign up for. I played baseball, football, basketball, and soccer. We had a fifth grade track meet with all the elementary schools in the city. I didn't like track and running at the time but I was very good at it. I had the fastest times in school in the 50, 100, and 150 meter dash. Little did I know that I would be running long distance for the rest of my life after fifth grade.

In sixth grade I discovered a talent that would take me through a lot of adventures. We were running the mile in gym class. I remember lining up with everyone not even expecting to finish in the middle half of the class. We started running and I went out in the lead ahead of everyone. I was always a good sprinter but I never ran distance before. In the race I overlapped almost the entire class, finishing with the fastest time in school.

After that race I got into running a lot. I ran the mile in the Junior Olympics and won my age group. In seventh and eighth grade, my biggest accomplishments as a runner was qualifying for the National Junior Olympics. I ran the 4x800 with three other kids my age from Iowa. We shattered the state record by 30 seconds at the State Meet and easily won Regionals. We went on and medaled at Nationals.

I decided to join cross country in middle school and I set two school records which stand today. In seventh grade I ran the two-mile in a time of 11:51 and in eighth grade in a time of 11:43. I loved cross country but my favorite sport was still track. My freshman year I broke the 4x800 record with three other freshman from my school in a time of 8:56.

In high school I started to get into music. I listen to all kinds of artists, The Beatles, Led Zepplin, Metallica, and I even enjoy listening to classical music on occasion.

* * * * * * * * * *

From his family's and friend's perspective, Logan had a great ability to connect with people and animals. He always saw the good in everyone. Anyone who knew Logan saw him as a caring and loving person. He had the biggest heart. He was a wealth of knowledge and a source of happiness for many people.

Logan was driven, persistent, ambitious, and energetic. He was someone who persevered and did not give up easily. He would put his heart and soul into everything he did. He would set out to achieve great things and would strive to reach his full potential. He loved to read and had an amazing memory. He was told he could do things that many people could not do.

Logan had many talents and interests. He was one of those people who could do almost anything. He learned to play the bass guitar and piano and participated in a community theater musical. He sang in choir throughout school and was chosen for honor choir in middle school. He taught himself to play "Maple Leaf Rag." He learned Kung Fu and earned a Black Belt. He did body building and arm wrestling. He played all types of sports and set records in track and cross country. He loved to travel, watch the Olympics, ride on roller coasters, and perform magic. He loved exotic cars and airplanes. Logan and his Mom had a common interest in the stars and astronomy and would often stargaze at night. He loved math and physics. He was personally chosen by the Physic Professors at the University of Northern Iowa to receive a scholarship for his outstanding achievement in Physics. He was on the honor roll. He loved studying the universe, black holes, and nuclear science. He liked hiking in the mountains and ran to the top of Pikes Peak in Colorado. He loved to camp and spend time in the outdoors. He especially enjoyed eating Mexican and Asian foods and pizza! He adored his cat Scrappy and his dog Missy.

* * * * * * * * * *

Logan's poem written in High School -

Life

Open your eyes and see the light.
What is bad?
What is right?
Build a reputation, make a life.
The future is distant, tis not in sight.
Moments of anger flow past tight.
Outgrow the sorrow in which you fight.
Struggle to survive, try to make due.
Don't be fooled or greed will imprison you.
Reflect upon yourself and feel renewed.
Once you feel this, you'll know what's true.
It is within him,
God in which you seek new life.
He is the one who gave you light.