Columbine survivor's lost state championship ring found by veteran
[youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PABjgH38Pc]
In the spring of 1999, Evan Todd was the first student shot during the Columbine High School massacre. Nine months later he was a starting starting defensive tackle on the school's state champion football team.
At some point during his travels as a motivational speaker, Todd lost his championship ring and never thought he'd see it again. But last month he received a phone call from a homeless veteran in California who said he had found it.
The Denver Posthas the full story of how Bobby Smith, a 60-year-old former United State Army gunner found the ring in a creek bed in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and how it made its way back to Todd.
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Smith said the name on the ring immediately clicked in his brain.
"You'd have to be from Mars not to know Columbine High School," he said. "I instantly recognized the name of it."
One sports shop offered Smith $2,000 for the ring but he decided to track down the owner instead. Todd's name is engraved on the side of the ring, so eventually Smith was able to get in touch with him.
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Todd and Smith met in New York Thursday and appeared on "Fox & Friends." Todd announced that he set up a GoFundMe page as a display of gratitude. As of Monday afternoon, over 2,000 people have combined to donate just under $104,000. Half of the money will go to Smith and the rest will be donated those in similar situations.
- Dan Gartland
