The Lancaster ISD community and the 15-year-old’s family held a balloon release to honor sophomore football player Preston Malone III.
LANCASTER, Texas — Family, teammates and neighbors filled the football field this week to remember Lancaster Early College High School sophomore Preston Malone III, 15, who died last week after a heat-related medical emergency at football practice.
The crowd gathered on the Tigers’ field for a balloon release, a quiet goodbye for a young lineman known for his work ethic and faith.
Lancaster ISD said athletic staff followed UIL heat-safety protocols and responded immediately when Malone reported he wasn’t feeling well during an indoor practice that lacked air conditioning. He was cooled in an ice bath and transported for treatment, but died two days later, according to the district.
On the field where he “left it all,” those who loved him tried to put words to the loss.
“If I could have a heart like Preston’s, that’s what I would want,” his coach said.
His grandfather framed their grief in gratitude: “We didn’t lose him… God allowed him to be with us for 15 years.”
Malone’s grandmother, Lisa Wynn, said she was thankful for a final conversation during practice.
“I remember him telling the coach Sorry, I didn’t finish the drill. I touched his hand and told him Grandma was here. I stroked his hair… he was kind of hot. I was cooling him down with icepacks,” Wynn said. “I’m grateful I had the opportunity to speak with him before his passing. The Lord allowed me to do that.”
Antanette Malone remembered a son rooted in scripture.
“He was always reading his Bible app. We’re grateful he was in that space,” Antanette said. “We didn’t get the chance to see him graduate, but he graduated from the world.”
His father, Preston Malone II, held tight to the good: “You left a lot of memories, so we can’t be mad at that,” he said. “We can always question how much more could’ve been done, but at the end of the day, we have to accept it.”
His coach described Malone as a sophomore on the junior varsity who gave 110% at every drill and rep.
Dozens of balloons lifted into the warm evening sky above the football stadium. Then, something happened that made people smile through tears: the balloons bearing his number, 57, hovered and tangled at midfield, as if the number that anchored the line wasn’t quite ready to leave his favorite place.