According to The Associated Press, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say former West Virginia University receiver Chris Henry has died, one day after suffering serious injuries upon falling out of the back of a pickup.
Police say Henry died at 6:36 a.m. Thursday. He was 26.
“The entire Mountaineer football family is deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Chris Henry. He is in my thoughts, as well as those of his former teammates, right now. We say ‘Once a Mountaineer, always a Mountaineer,’ and Chris was a big part of our success during his time here. For me, he was a real joy to be around on a daily basis. He always came to work and loved to play football. Our hearts and prayers go out to his mother and family. He will be greatly missed.”
First team all-BIG EAST in 2004 ... tied with Darius Reynaud for WVU’s single-season TD reception record (12) … second in WVU career TD receptions (22) and eighth in career yardage (1,878) ... 52 catches for 872 yards in 2004 ... four receptions for 86 yards in win over East Carolina, including a 60-yard TD from Marshall ... then-career-best seven catches against UCF gained 93 yards with 2 scores ... game-winning touchdown on a seven-yard third-down catch from Marshall in overtime against Maryland ... total of five catches for 72 yards against the Terps ... 2 TDs of 5 and 3 yards in the James Madison game; 7 total catches for 74 yards against JMU ... five catches gained 42 yards at Virginia Tech ... 49-yard TD against Connecticut ... pair of scores against Syracuse of 23 and 25 yards; long catch was for 47 yards versus the Orange ... 119 yards on 4 catches in the win at Rutgers, including a 39-yard touchdown and a 69-yard gain ... was ejected for two unsportsmanlike penalties ... sat out first half of Temple game, but had a 40-yard TD catch against the Owls in the third quarter ... 118 yards receiving on career-best 8 catches against BC, with a 6-yard TD ... did not play against Pitt ... 3 catches for 61 yards in Gator Bowl ... ranked 29th in NCAA receiving yards per game (83.8) in 2003 ... BIG EAST rookie of the year and second team all-conference ... led team with 41 catches for 1,006 yards and 10 scores ... scored a touchdown on his first three receptions ... first career catch was a 37-yard score from Marshall at East Carolina ... also had a 32-yard TD catch at ECU ... 11-yard TD from Marshall vs. Cincinnati ... team-high three knockdowns at Maryland ... four catches gained 75 yards at Miami ... 176 yards on four catches vs. Rutgers for the 10th-best effort in WVU history ... 83-yard TD from Marshall vs. Rutgers was a then-Mountaineer Field record and the fourth longest TD catch in Mountaineer records ... pair of catches for 16 yards in the Virginia Tech win ... 13-yard reception in UCF win ... 132 yards on five catches at Boston College, including a long gain of 47 and touchdowns from Hales of 37 and 32 yards ... four catches gained 75 yards in the Pitt win ... WVU record 209 yards receiving on six catches at Syracuse, with touchdowns from Marshall of 67 and 24 yards ... 42-yard score in the Temple win ... three catches gained 46 yards in Gator Bowl ... BIG EAST player of week: Syracuse ... Offensive Champion: Syracuse ... did not participate in football in 2002 ... offensive player of the year at Belle Chasse (La.) High ... born May, 1983 ... bowl trips: 2004 Gator, 2005 Gator.
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| Posted by Scott on 12/17/09 at 11:03 AM |
Sad news, he never quite got it all straightened out but a tragic loss for his family and children. RIP Chris...
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| Posted by Jesse Rogers on 12/17/09 at 11:04 AM |
I think chris henry was the best wide receiver at west virginia my thoughts and prayers go too his parents and relatives!
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| Posted by Will on 12/17/09 at 11:05 AM |
So sad he was doing a great job in turning his life around
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| Posted by UNCFAN on 12/17/09 at 11:07 AM |
God Bless Him at least you know as a Mountaneer he was that much closer to Heaven.
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| Posted by Barbara on 12/17/09 at 11:08 AM |
I am so sad about the passing of Chris Henry...was a great football player
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| Posted by Tony on 12/17/09 at 11:13 AM |
A sad day here in Charlotte. A kid who had turned his life around. God bless him and our WVU family!
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| Posted by john on 12/17/09 at 11:14 AM |
I hope he finds Peace in his final resting place! Great Receiver, just wasn't fortunate enough to fight off all the problems in his life.
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| Posted by Ray on 12/17/09 at 11:19 AM |
Thanks for the memories Chris. I pray for your family and friends for peace. God be with you.
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| Posted by MUworker on 12/17/09 at 11:20 AM |
Sorry to see this happen. He was just starting to do some good things in his life and career. Condolences to his family and friends.
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| Posted by Jordan on 12/17/09 at 11:22 AM |
Sad day for Mountaineers and Bengals fans alike. Thoughts and prayers goin out to Chris Henry's family and friends today. Once a Mountaineer, ALWAYS a Mountaineer.
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| Posted by jerryg on 12/17/09 at 11:29 AM |
Thanks for the memories Chris, our prayers are with your family.
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| Posted by Jamie on 12/17/09 at 11:41 AM |
Once A Mountaineer Always A Mountaineer! R.I.P
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| Posted by Terrymiller on 12/17/09 at 11:46 AM |
The best WR in WVU history, and he was a young man in transition, turning his life around. I pray and feel for his mother and children. I dont get lumps in my throat very often, but i did today. Cheer YOUR Mountaineers on from above my man. You will be missed.
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| Posted by markswinjax on 12/17/09 at 11:47 AM |
A great loss for the Mountaineer family-it's so sad, for this young man was reaching his full potential as a player, and most important, a person. I strongly feel he was on his way to becoming one of the better wide recievers in the league with his awesome God given skills-"Blessed" he was! -May God Bless you Chris and your family---"Almost Heaven-West Virginia Mountaineers!!!!!"
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| Posted by KLM on 12/17/09 at 11:48 AM |
Once a Mountaineer, always a Mountaineer. Thank you for your sweet smile Chris. You will be missed by both your Mountaineer and Bengals families.
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| Posted by aaron on 12/17/09 at 12:09 PM |
chris thank you very much for the memories the experiences and joyful times in my young life. may god bless you and keep you. i hope your in heaven watching us kick bowden's butt in jacksonville rip
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| Posted by Taylor Made on 12/17/09 at 12:09 PM |
Terribe, terrible loss for the Mountaineer family and the world. He was doing everything right in life now. Very sad day for the Mountaineer nation. R.I.P. Chris Henry!!
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| Posted by WVU Fan on 12/17/09 at 12:12 PM |
What a loss of such great talent. It's such a sad day for all Mountaineer fans, where ever you may be. God bless him and his family. R.I.P Chris
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| Posted by Charlie on 12/17/09 at 12:15 PM |
As a Bengal and Mountaineer fan the loss of Chris has taken its toll on me...I enjoyed watching him play and he will truly be missed RIP # 5 you truly were a legend at WVU and the city of Cincinnati will never be the same....God Bless
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| Posted by Pauly on 12/17/09 at 12:26 PM |
Taken too soon, very sad to hear my heart goes out to his family, the Moutaineers, and his Bengals family.
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| Posted by Kevin Ready on 12/17/09 at 12:27 PM |
Many problems early on in his life but only 26. He started turning his life around and was way to young to leave us this early. As a Mountaineer you are "Almost Heaven" - now your with the varsity team. RIP Chris.
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| Posted by Billy B on 12/17/09 at 12:31 PM |
What a great receiver he was. As he started turning his life for the better!! Once a mountaineer alway's A mountaineer................................. R.I.P Chris!!!
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| Posted by Deeply Saddened on 12/17/09 at 12:43 PM |
Tragic loss ... It's ashame that universities and professional sports leagues can't do a better job of preparing these kids for life. They certainly benefit from the physical attributes that guys like CH, or Steve McNair, or INSERT NAME provide, but miss the mark on helping to make them better people.
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| Posted by Curt on 12/17/09 at 12:44 PM |
Chris Henry was a great football player for WVU. He and Danny Buggs are arguably the two most talented and athletic WRs ever to don the Old Gold and Blue. He will be missed. I am glad that he lived life the way he wanted -- he marched to the beat of a different drummer and we can all learn something in remembering Chris Henry.
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| Posted by WVUGator on 12/17/09 at 1:13 PM |
Thoughts are with his family at this time. We all know of his past, but I have the young man credit, he started to turn things around and sad that his season ended early with the injury.
May he rest in peace and let light shine upon him.
My favorite Chris Henry monent is when he caught the TD pass in 2004 during the Maryland game in OT to win the game. It was in t he South End Zone and he throw the ball up in the air. At that time, we could not get over the Maryland hump.
Thank you for the memories Chris, my you rest peace.
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| Posted by WVU Mom on 12/17/09 at 1:21 PM |
Such a sad day for the Mountaineer Nation. Heartfelt condolences are lovingly sent through prayer to the family and friends of Chris Henry. Rest In Peace, #5...your accomplishments that were "Almost Heaven," will be remembered in our hearts...
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| Posted by Jared on 12/17/09 at 2:02 PM |
This is such a tragic turn of events for such a good person and great football player. As a die hard WVU fan Chris Henry was one of the all-time greats to play for this great program and he will be sadly missed both on and off the field. My thoughts and prayers go out to his realitves and children that he leaves behind you will always be in our hearts Chris once a mountaineer always a mountaineer RIP# 5.
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| Posted by Jim on 12/17/09 at 2:23 PM |
As a Mountaineer, he lived and played in "Almost Heaven." Now he's there. Rest in peace, Chris.
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| Posted by wvu #1 on 12/17/09 at 2:43 PM |
chris was the greatest wide reciever in mountaineer history. he will be missed by mountaineers fans everywhere
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| Posted by Diane Medwick on 12/17/09 at 2:52 PM |
A truly sad event. Here was a young man in the process of turning his life around and becoming an asset to himself and his family. It seems just as he was realizing who and what was really important, his life was cut short and all his dreams and future accomplishments will never come to pass. RIP Chris Henry. And to his family, ?????? ?a????! (veechnaya pomyat, always remember)
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| Posted by M.E. Seba on 12/17/09 at 3:15 PM |
A very sad day indeed for the WVU family and Chris' family and friends. God Bless you all and know you are in our prayers. Rest in Peace Chris.
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| Posted by BMW on 12/17/09 at 3:45 PM |
Special thoughts for Chris's family and close friends. Another reminder of just how fragile life is and why we should love and respect those around us.
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| Posted by Assad Khan on 12/17/09 at 4:30 PM |
To this day...my favorite WVU touchdown of all time was in overtime when Chris caught the pass from Rasheed and notched the 19-16 win against Maryland in 2004. RIP Chris.
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| Posted by eazye on 12/17/09 at 4:43 PM |
R.I.P.Chris Henry My thoughts and prayers go out to the henry family
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| Posted by JOEY on 12/17/09 at 7:17 PM |
RIP CHIRS HENRY
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| Posted by Dan on 12/17/09 at 7:55 PM |
Best wishes go out to the Henry family and his friends. What a loss we have in mountaineer nation. We all will miss u Chris. U inspired me when u played and i looked up to u as a player and romadel. RIP #5. WELL MISS U.
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| Posted by Jo Ann on 12/17/09 at 8:00 PM |
Our thoughts and prayers to the Henry Family, the Cincinnati Bengal Family and the WVU players, fans, students and coaches who knew Chris.....a young man who finally was able to rise above all of his issues and turn his life around. May we all take a moment to treasure the moments Chris gave us, to appreciate all we have, love those dear to us and never forget that a person can turn their life around if given the chance....a great lesson for all of us~ Chris will always be smiling down on all of us~
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| Posted by wvrainman on 12/17/09 at 8:18 PM |
Always was a pleasure watching you run your routes at Mountaineer Field and the only reason I'd tune in a Bengals game. Chris, you will be truly missed - RIP #5/15
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| Posted by Crystal on 12/17/09 at 11:50 PM |
I am always proud when a Mountaineer is successful on the field and off. Chris was certainly beginning to find success in life. May God grant peace to your family and friends. They are certainly in our prayers. May you now rest in peace and know you are thought of by Mountaineers everywhere.
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| Posted by Shane on 12/18/09 at 2:17 AM |
Always a Mountaineer! RIP Chris..
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| Posted by Drew on 12/18/09 at 3:34 AM |
#5/15 the gold and blue and the Bengal nation will miss you. And we can't explain it. But we will be praying for u and your family. The only explanation is that God needed a good WR to catch balls for his team. We will miss u it was great to watch you play in motown and bring the Bengals back to good times.
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| Posted by wvu#1 on 12/18/09 at 8:35 AM |
Chris was such a great player and was doing such a wonderful job turning everything around. im deeply upset about his passing. god bless his family as well as his wvu family! he will be missed greatly!
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| Posted by mountaineer manaic on 12/18/09 at 10:28 AM |
Chris Henry was one of the greatest mountaineers i had ever watched..its ashame it had to end like this, he was just turning his life around. God be blessed with the Henry family and god be blessed with Chris. Once a mountaineer always a mountaineer
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| Posted by slykktee on 12/18/09 at 11:22 AM |
big bengals fan... we will miss him greatly.
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| Posted by daesean phelps on 12/18/09 at 1:26 PM |
He one of my favorite players and i just hate to see him leave i just hate to see him leave
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| Posted by CG on 12/18/09 at 2:47 PM |
RIP Chris Henry. You brought us all many smiles and good times here in WV. I sure hope the team, the school, and the fans do something special in his memory at the bowl game! And, even at the stadium. Display a picture, his number or something like that.
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| Posted by Bill on 12/19/09 at 2:23 PM |
As a mountaineer alum that currently lives in Cincy I always enjoyed watching Chris Henry on the field. My favorite memory of him is when he ended our long losing streak to Maryland in a tough OT game. He was very entertaining to watch in Cincy and fit in perfectly with Chad Ochocinco in the Bengals offense. We will miss you hope you are resting in a better place.
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