Oral Roberts University student-athlete Eugene Quaynor, who was confirmed dead after being involved in a gory car accident on Wednesday was remembered on Friday on the ORU campus and the indoor soccer complex where he played.
Quaynor was the captain of Oral Roberts University’s men’s soccer team.
According to Oklahoma Police, the 23-year-old was at a stop light when a drunk driver in an SUV rammed into his car from behind.
Quaynor’s car subsequently veered through the intersection and hit a wall before catching fire in the process.
Police say the driver who caused the crash is in the hospital. They have not released his name or whether charges have been filed against him.
ORU men’s soccer coach Ryan Bush described how Quaynor asked for an assignment to grow in his faith. Bush said he told Quaynor to keep a prayer journal.
“When he left with that prayer journal,” Bush said, “I was like, ‘He’s going to pray for himself and his family and prosperity.’ I was thinking of the things Eugene needed. ”
“I looked at a man who was working to send home money to his family — who never complained, always showed up with an infectious smile, was always our hardest working player,” Bush said, “We never really knew everything that was going on back home. We knew there was stuff going on back home but every single one of those listed prayers that he was going through daily had to do with somebody inside of the team, or somebody else.”
Bush says Quaynor’s life influenced people in other ways, like when a teacher shared his story.
“He shared Eugene’s life and testimony and 27 kids gave their life to Christ,” Bush said.
Bush said 27 was the number on Quaynor’s soccer jersey.
ORU president Dr. William Wilson asked everyone to stand for a moment of silence and a prayer.
“We never went through exactly this, Lord, and we need You,” Wilson said, “We really need You. Most of all, today, I pray for Eugene’s family in Ghana. I can’t imagine all of their emotions and all of the feelings they’ve gone to, Father, but You understand. You lost a Son.”
Wilson also spoke to the cameras to Quaynor’s family, who he said, was watching from Ghana.
“We love you. We’re praying for you. We know this is almost unbearable,” Wilson said, “But, we pray that God would hold you close and tight during these moments, that He would make the memories of Eugene’s life sweet in your heart and that He would sustain all of your through this very unusual time.”
Quaynor graduated from ORU last Spring with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations, with a 3.77 G.P.A.
He was on the books of the Phoenix Academy in Ghana, before moving to America, where he joined the Flint City Bucks in Flint, Michigan.