As a freshman, Derick secretly planned to try out for Pistol Pete as a surprise for his father, but Rick passed away unexpectedly in January 2008, due to an unknown heart condition.
"That was the first thing that Derick said when I told him that his dad died: ‘I never got to tell him that I was going to try out for Pete,'" Derick's mom, Cathy Dillard Byrum, told The O'Colly in 2009.
Derick was devastated over the loss of his beloved father, but that did not stop him from accomplishing his goal. If anything, it made him more driven. Derick tried out for Pistol Pete in April 2008 but was unsuccessful. The following spring, he tried out again and made it.
"I think it was a way for him to give something back," Cathy said. "When you lose someone you think of the stuff you wish you'd said, wish you'd done, and this was a way for him to wrap that all up and give it back."
Derick has mentioned that he hopes baby Israel will following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather as a third generation Pistol Pete.
Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com
if their was one thing you could change what would it be and why? I'm excited to see baby Dillard
ReplyDeletevideos are not loading for some reason. Neither did the birth video.Thanks,
ReplyDeleteAww you're making me cry. God bless you, Derick. From Joyce Anglin Miller
ReplyDeleteWhat a loving tribute. Family heritage is so important.
ReplyDeleteWhat time does this episode air?
ReplyDeleteIsrael a third generation Pistol Pete? That would be wonderful for the Dillard family, I'm sure, but Derick and Jill really need to step forward and state their plans for his education before college...is Jill set on home schooling him or will he attend a school? How can he qualify for entrance in to a state college with laxed home schooling curriculum? Please let us know.
ReplyDeleteHomeschooling curriculums are NOT laxed!! I've known many many many home schoolers who have gone to college and scored way above the kids who went to public school.
DeleteThere are many successful students around the country who have been homeschooled and are now attending college, many on academic scholarships. Israel is only a month old...I'm sure Jill and Derrick will make the best decision for their child's education when the time comes.
DeleteHomeschooling curriculum is no less than state curriculum. You just do it at home.
Delete(Current homeschooler who has done both)
Why is it so important that we know? ;-)
DeleteI'd be interested to know this as well!
DeleteActually homeschoolers can enter college and get the first two years of their bachelors degree done in the last two years of high school. There are many advantages to homeschoolers that aren't available to public or private schooled kids.
DeleteWhat an amazing tribute to your father. Go POKES!
ReplyDeleteWill Israel be allowed to attend UO???
ReplyDeleteso happy for you but we in Australia are still waiting to see u married :( tired of kowingall this before we see the ot her stuff
ReplyDeleteNeat! Did they ever find out what condition your dad had? Our family has Long QT Syndrome; it is often unknown before it is too late. Please get for the sake of Jill and baby Israel.
ReplyDeleteA Duggar going to college?! Yes! Go baby Dilly!!!
ReplyDeleteI believe that they stated that he will be supported to go if he decided to go. If not, he will be equally supported by his family. Not everyone had to go to college to succeed.
DeleteYay to Derick for going to college! He will be able to provide well for his family. What a beautiful family the three of them make. We love them.
ReplyDeleteLoved this little segment!
ReplyDeleteThat is so sweet! I feel bad for Derick with the lost of his father. I love the Duggars & Dillardsc & and Seewalds.
ReplyDeleteFun learning about this part of Derick's college experience. The connection to his father and how important being the mascot was to him was very, very touching. Neat learning that his parents were married in college. The journal entry Cathy shared with Derrick from his father was so tender and touching.
ReplyDeleteI can't help but wonder if Jill ( and the other older Duggar kids) wish they could have been allowed to have the true college experience- not College Plus- like Derrick!
ReplyDeleteHomeschoolers and college - YES!! Not sure about Arkansas, but in PA I would say that our homeschoolers are equal with our public school children (at least in our county). Was just at an awards ceremony for writing and about 1/3 of the winners were home schooled. AND I am not a home school advocate...just saying.
ReplyDeleteAwww, that is so awesome!! My son's dad and all of his family are HUGE OSU Alumni!!! We live in Georgia now but love OSU!!!
ReplyDeleteVery ni of Derrick!
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteOf course their children can go to college! Homeschoolers have a legal diploma just like all public and private schooled children!
I wonder if they had a girl if she would be encouraged to go to college, after all, the Duggar girls have not been. I'm glad that they value higher education for their children.
ReplyDeleteHomeschool kids have the option to attend college. At Montco, where I am a student, a homeschooled child, let's say Joy, would check a box for homeschooling, where a conventional school graduate would write in the name of his or her high school.
ReplyDeleteI love this family and it would be horrible for the show to end. I think something should be done to the people who leaked this info and everyone involved. That is a juvenile sealed record. How do they look themselves in the mirror. God Bless you all!
ReplyDeleteAMEN!
ReplyDelete