Dear editor, many of you who have lived in Napa for a long time know Keith and Doris Orr.

Keith was a coach and teacher at Napa High School for many years and their four kids all graduated from Napa High School. Their daughter and my good friend, Tammi Orr Stanley teaches elementary school in Idaho and her husband, Graydon Stanley is the dean of students at the College of Southern Idaho. They have a son, Graham Stanley, who was to graduate from Arizona State University this spring, until a tragedy happened walking home about a mile away from campus one night with a friend of his who was visiting from Twin Falls. They were jumped by four guys who drove by and turned around to rob them. They were beaten so badly that Graham needed emergency brain surgery to survive. Their wallets and cell phones were stolen with their identification, and they were left to die. A witness called 911 and they had to act so fast that they did the brain surgery before they even knew Graham’s name.

Graham’s friend regained consciousness the next day to tell the police and doctors their names so they could notify their parents. You can only imagine getting that phone call that your child was kicked so many times in the head he had to have emergency brain surgery to save him. These boys who did this got $6 in change and a cell phone, which ironically is what got them caught. They used Graham’s cell phone and he had GPS on it, which the police tracked to them. They admitted to the crime.

Graham is getting better and stronger every day and is out of the hospital, but it’s going to be a long road ahead. The College of Southern Idaho has established the Graydon Stanley Fund to help them with medical and travel expenses. Both Tammi and Graydon have taken a leave of absence from their jobs to help Graham with his care in Arizona.

If you would like to help, please send your donation to the Graydon Stanley Fund, College of Southern Idaho, P.O. Box 1238, Twin Falls, ID 83303-1238. If you have any questions, call me at 265-9521. I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have. Thank you.

Julie Willis

Napa