CAMERON LOSES ONE OF ITS BIGGEST FANS

(CAMERON)  Cameron has lost a true friend.  Mike Peck died Tuesday from complications of a stroke he suffered last month. The ripple effects of his passing will be felt for years to come by this community. 

From a sideline Icon at Cameron Yoemen Football games to state cross country meets; from Easter Egg Hunts to Festivals; from Community Improvement projects to court proceedings; from traffic accidents to crime scenes; Mike was always there. 

Mike began his 32-year career with The Cameron Herald at a young age of 16 when he approached the management about using his pictures to start a sports page.  He never missed a Yoemen game from that point on, until last Friday night when the Yoemen opened up the 2005 season with a home game against Fairfield. 

Mike had suffered a stroke, and while in the hospital, apparently suffered a series of strokes that deemed him unresponsive.  Mike died Tuesday at his home.  He was 48.

For Several Years, Mike was a guest on a weekly sports show here on KMIL hosted by former employee Rob Reed.  Mike's love for media crossed into radio, and he also became a regular personality helping produce KMIL's Saturday Morning Scoreboard during the high school football season.

Mike was born and raised in Cameron.  He suffered from hepatitis when he was in middle school, and spent weeks in the hospital.  Doctors had told the family at one point, that they didn't expect him to live through the night.  They were wrong.  Within days of leaving the hospital, however, Mike's mother suffered an aneurysm and died.  It was during this time that Mike, his family, and this community formed a bond that propelled his passion and love for Cameron.

Mike is survived by his wife Kim, his father and step-mother, Billy and Melissa Peck of Cameron.  2 sisters; Missy Meeks of Cameron and Kimberly Benson of Hewitt.  And 1 aunt, Lois Gray of Bryan.