Program ‘devastated’ by student’s death
Robert Platt Jr. was known to enjoy a good nap, even when it caused him to be late for a track workout.
“Somebody call him, because you know he’s sleeping,” Kyle Tellez, his coach, said.
Platt would answer his phone. “‘Sorry coach, I fell asleep, I’m on my way.’ ”
Ten minutes later, Platt would arrive to workouts, his wavy brown hair messy and wearing his signature Chuck Taylor high-tops.
Platt, a sophomore pole vaulter at the University of Houston who was killed in a boating crash Wednesday, was remembered by coaches Friday as well-liked by teammates, with an easygoing “California mentality” and a promising future in the sport.
Head coach Leroy Burrell said the UH athletics community is “devastated” and the track program is in a “state of shock.” Long before he joined the UH track program, Platt was a fixture on campus as the only child of Kaddie Platt, who spent seven seasons as the school’s volleyball coach and another 17 seasons at Houston Baptist.
Robert Platt Jr. was also involved in campus activities, including a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
“This touches a lot of aspects of the University of Houston community,” Burrell said.
UH wrapped up the track season three weeks ago, with many of the athletes spread throughout the country. Burrell said he has spoken with some of Platt’s closest friends on the team and expects to make grief counselors available when the entire team returns to campus later this summer.
“It’s difficult for them, to say the least,” Burrell said. “We’ll be dealing with this for quite some time. When they return, that’s when the gravity of the situation will hit.”
Platt was an accomplished pole vaulter, finishing as a bronze medalist for George Ranch High School at the Class 6A state meet in 2017 and was part of two UH teams that swept the American Athletic Conference indoor and outdoor titles in back-to-back seasons. As a freshman, Platt posted a pair of top-10 finishes and cleared a career-best 15-3½ this season at the Texas A&M Alumni Muster.
“He was a hard worker, did what he was supposed to do,” said Tellez, UH’s associate coach who works with pole vaulters. “He had some talent. He was definitely improving and moving up.”
Tellez remembered Platt for his sense of humor and willingness to be the subject of jokes.
“He was the kid that, if something went wrong … we would always blame Robert for everything,” Tellez said. “He was that kind of guy. He was so easygoing. If something went wrong, or somebody left poles out or the pit was uncovered, we would say, ‘What did you do Robert?’ He would say, ‘It wasn’t me.’ ”
Burrell said the loss was particularly difficult for him because of his relationship with Robert’s mother. Burrell and Platt’s offices were down the hallway from each other inside the Athletics-Alumni Center.
“Kaddie was a colleague of mine, a good friend I spent a lot of time talking with through the years,” Burrell said. “It so happens she entrusted her son to me and my staff. For her to go through this, I’m sure it’s devastating.”
Asked what he would tell the Platt family, Burrell paused, fighting back emotion.
“To lose your child in a tragic accident, words really can’t describe how you feel about situations like this,” he said. “Best we can do is support the Platt family and pray for them to find some comfort and strength in this difficult time.”
“This is a tragedy. “This is a young man in the prime of his life, a great student with a bright future who is no longer with us. There really isn’t much to say. I think you offer a shoulder to lean on. Best you can do is give them a hug, open your arms and try and support them.”
Funeral arrangements are pending.