Rico Phillips was watching Sports Center when he learned about the death of Fennville High School’s Wes Leonard. The 16-year-old star athlete collapsed and died moments after scoring a game-winning basket for his high school basketball team.
“It took me back about 25 years,” said Phillips.
On April 18, 1985, Phillips was enjoying time with the Flint Southwestern High School baseball team. The 15-year-old sophomore was the team athletic trainer.
“We were destined to win that day,” said Phillips.
Southwestern’s pitcher Chad Joslin had recently moved to Flint from Linden to play for the winning team. His goal was to go to college on a baseball scholarship. Phillips watched Joslin pitch a near-perfect game, beating Pontiac Central.
“Then out of the corner of my eye I saw him drop.”
Phillips didn’t know what had happened. Joslin was having a seizure in the dug out. He then stopped breathing.
“Our high school coach yelled, ‘Rico, get over here now!’"
Phillips and Joslin’s mom, who was a nurse, ran to the 18-year-old and together started C.P.R.
“She’s weeping as we’re trying to do C.P.R.,” Phillips recalled. “I remember the physical things I experienced. His cold stare. The crushing of his ribs. Things they don’t tell you about in C.P.R. class.”
Rescue workers soon arrived and rushed Joslin to the hospital. Phillips thought his classmate would make it. He did not.
“It was hard. I went into a depression.”
The team noticed. One day Phillips was called down to the office.
“They all put their arms around me and told me thanks. I said, why? They said you gave us hope. That’s when I decided I wanted to dedicate my life to helping people in this way.”
Rico Phillips is now a Flint Firefighter. Sometimes lives are saved in his line of work. Sometimes lives are lost. Joslin taught him his duty is to give people hope in the midst of tragedy.
He now coaches his son’s hockey team, the Flint Flames. As he watches the young players it is always in the back of his mind that their lives are fragile, but he tries not to worry. He tries to help the young athletes live life to the fullest.
“If I could say one thing to Chad, I’d say thank you. He changed my life.”
