Rocky Clark, an exemplary life

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Updated: February 12, 2012 8:16AM

Courage and inspiration come in all forms, all sizes.

We were dazzled by Rasul “Rocky” Clark, the Eisenhower High School kid from Robbins who lived 11 1/2 years after a spinal injury in a football game left him paralyzed.

What it mostly stole was Rocky’s options, but while there surely were dark days, he endured with a winning smile and uplifting spirit that put all of us to shame.

He was a kid worth knowing and liking and became such a man as well until his life ended abruptly last week at 27, saddening all who knew him and knew of him.

But a quadriplegic leads a life of dependence and luck that hinges on his body continuing to fight, even though he cannot feel it slipping away. We are poorer for Rocky’s passing. If you need proof that life can be cruel, his existence was testament to that reality.

His admirers and advocates have summoned his memory in the renewed “Rocky’s Law” crusade in the Legislature. State Rep. Will Davis (D-Homewood) and Rocky’s pastor, the Rev. Anthony Williams, have vowed to lead the effort to insure that all high school athletes have lifetime catastrophic medical coverage.

Rocky was fortunate that Community High School District 218, unlike most school districts, had an excellent policy that provided $5 million in coverage. But it ran out after a decade, causing Rocky and his family much financial stress during the past year.

The issue of such insurance for high school student-athletes has languished in Springfield since Rocky’s tragic injury, and the reason seems obvious. Requiring that every school district pay for lifetime benefits could cost taxpayers millions.

Minnesota is the only state that insures all public high school athletes, and its lifetime benefit is capped at $2 million.

Nonetheless, we support analyzing all the potential costs in Illinois and deciding if this is what the people of the state wish to provide.

It’s a sensitive issue, and we don’t expect the answers or the task to be obvious or easy. Rocky’s courage deserves no less.