Chet at 15 and a sophomore

Chet with his friend, Julie.Chet with his younger sisters and friends floating down the Itchatucknee River in Florida.Chet singing and playing the piano with his friend, Mike.Chet was in the varsity Chamber Singers Choir at Buchholz High School. He took private singing lessons from Debbie. Above, he is seen performing at one of his voice recitals at the Thomas Center in Gainesville, Florida.Chet loved the University of Florida Gator football team. Above, he is with his cousin Nathan, uncle Chet, uncle Harry, dad Larry, and older brother, Josh, watching the 1996 gator football national championship game!

“I could tell you all that I'm ok and that my brother, Chet, is in a better place; but I'm not ok with him not being with me and selfishly feel that the better place for him is hanging out with me... watching Florida Football! I understand that Chet is doing his Father in Heaven's work on the other side, and I accept that. I just miss him so much that my chest hurts sometimes.

I think of all of the laughter I missed over the years that Chet has been gone. I think of all of the strength he would have brought me through the challenges of life. I think of how I'm going to fill the void in the lives of my children when Chet took his smile with him! How do you replace the amazing experiences your children would have had if their uncle were still here? I know how much Chet would have been able to teach them and how much they would have loved their uncle. My children watch videos of Chet, discussing how much they miss him and how wonderful and nice he seems. One day they will know.

I am grateful to all of you for sharing here. Thank you for your examples and inspiration. It warms my heart to hear how my brother, Chet, touched so many of your lives. I hope that I can emulate him.”
---Josh Rodgers

Chet with his family at older sister, Joy's, high school graduation.

Chet with his friend 's, Andy, Tyler, and Joe at EFY.

“The last time I was with Chet was during the summer before my mission. I was a counselor at the camp Especially For Youth (EFY) in Tampa, Florida on the USF campus, and Chet was there also.

Chet and I saw each other and talked a little, and then several of the young men in my group wanted to hang out with him and his group throughout the week. Chet had a magnetic personality and a great spirit about him. Anyone who met him for the first time could tell there was something special about him. Chet really had the light of Christ in his eyes. It didn’t hurt that he was very talented and a good athlete as well. (I could tell since we played on the same football team with the EFY kids during the conference.)

But more than that, Chet was such a good example and a great leader in his own right. His testimony was strong, and I admired him for the way he would reach out and include others in his circle. Chet was a remarkable young man. I remember and respect him in the same reverence that people in Gainesville talk about Tim Tebow. It was an honor to know Chet and the rest of his family.”
---N. Dean Sapp