Dallas high school track star dies unexpectedly – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Instead of celebrating the start to his senior year, loved ones of 17-year-old Roy Hughes Jr. are mourning his death after the high school track athlete was found unresponsive in his room on Friday morning.

The track and field state champion was a student at Lincoln High School in the Dallas Independent School District.

In a post on ‘X’, the school said, “We mourn the loss and honor the life and legacy of Legendary Roy Lee Hughes-a true MODEL who Defied the Odds and Defined Excellence. A respectful young man with a heart of gold, he became a state champion through discipline humility & an unshakable commitment to his team & school.”

Sunday afternoon, family, friends and coaches took a lap around the track he constantly practiced on to honor his memory. They later held a balloon release at a nearby park.

“I feel like he was there with us,” said Hughes’s older brother, Timad Cotton. “My brother was just a joy to the room.”

Hughes was the 2025 UIL 4A Track and Field State Champion during his junior year in the boys’ 300-meter hurdles.

“My little brother, he chased his dreams and he did what he wanted to do. All the stuff he accomplished, he went and did on his own, nobody forced him to do it,” said another older brother.

Hughes was one of six children, four boys and two girls, according to the siblings. The family said their brother was a star on and off the field and an all-around student athlete.

“That’s what I love the most about him, he kept his grades,” said Cotton, who described his brother as hardworking, smart and determined.

According to the family, Hughes had a doctor’s visit last week. It’s unclear what for, but continued on the rest of the week as normal.

“My sister was there that night. He had just came in for practice. He came in, he ate, he went to his room, just shut the door,” explained Timmy Williams, another older brother.

He said that was on Thursday night and on Friday morning his mother found Hughes unresponsive.

“The doctor’s called, so that’s what made my mama go to the room. She would knock on the door, he won’t answer, so she had to open the door, she kicked the door,” explained Williams.

Dallas Police said around 11:55 a.m. on Aug 9, officers were called to the 1800 block of West Mockingbird Lane. Dallas Fire-Rescue arrived and pronounced Hughes dead. The cause of his death remains under investigation as the family waits for an autopsy report.

It’s unclear if he had prior medical issues.

“Now that he’s not here, I’m hurt. I’m hurt. I’m hurt because the last words I told him was, ‘I love you,’ ‘and he said, ‘ I love you back,’ and I told him I was going to see him next week. Just don’t take life for granted, you know? Cherish every morning with your family. Tell everybody you love them and every day hug your mama, every day. Don’t never let nobody tell you what you can’t do. Everything can be done and everything is possible,” expressed Cotton.

“Because that goes to show you, a kid that didn’t smoke and didn’t drink, don’t do nothing, fight or nothing, anything can happen any possible time,” said Williams. So just cherish everybody and love your family. Love your family always,” expressed Williams.

“As a big brother to a little brother, I’m very proud of him,” said Cotton as he and his other brothers wore Hughes’ track and field medals around their necks.