Patricia And Warren Kirksey Honor Grandson With A Memorial Scholarship

To honor the memory and spirit of their 6-year-old grandson who seemed destined to be an Aggie, Patricia and Warren (Pat) Kirksey of Lockhart have established the Spencer Patton Squire Memorial Scholarship in Education in the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University.

The scholarship is a one-year award for freshmen with financial need.

Spencer’s grandparents – the grandfather is a 1956 Texas A&M graduate – say just the day before he became ill, Spencer Patton Squire sat in a car seat in the back of a Suburban singing and swaying to the Aggie War Hymn with his 3-year-old brother, Ryan, and his 9-month-old cousin Sophia.

A brain aneurysm ended Spencer’s life.

This year’s scholarship recipient is Jacqueline Siegel, an early childhood education major from El Paso.

Allen residents Patrick and Anna Squire, Spencer’s parents who are both 1991 Texas A&M graduates, say they want Siegel to know that Spencer truly embraced life.

“His circle of life was small, but he truly lived life to the fullest,” said Anna. “He loved to learn; he enjoyed helping others learn and grow; and he was genuinely kind to others.”

All who met Spencer knew his passion for two things — the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Aggies, she adds.

“Spencer had so many favorite Aggie moments,” recalls Anna. “His first Aggie game was the Sept. 11 tribute game when he was 9 months old. Since then, he had run the bases at Olsen Field, he gave out the game ball at last year’s Texas A&M/Oklahoma State University basketball game, and he met and had his picture taken with Aggies such as Dat Nguyen, Stephen McGee and Acie Law IV.”

“However, if you would have asked Spencer his favorite Aggie moment,” added Patrick, “it would have been the Thanksgiving game last year when he finally got to see the Aggies prevail and beat Texas 12-7. It made him so happy to see that first win over Texas in his lifetime.”

While Spencer loved watching the Aggies win, when he played sports, he was more interested in the success of others than his own success, his parents were quick to note.

“Helping others is what he loved most,” said Anna. “It wasn’t about the points he scored in the basketball game, but it was the excitement when his friends made their first basket.”

Even in his death, Spencer’s legacy of love and life continues. By being an organ donor, Spencer was able to save the life of a 45-year-old woman with his liver. Spencer’s generous spirit saved a stranger’s life, observers note, and the generous spirit of his family is allowing freshmen at Texas A&M in financial need the chance to pursue their dreams at the university Spencer loved so much.