Instead of allowing himself to be crushed by the tragic death of his daughter, Randy Waddell turned his grief into something that could positively influence others.
The Tremont man and his wife, Cathy, gave nearly 80 presentations to more than 38,000 people during the past 6 years - urging teens to think twice before driving recklessly.
Waddell died of natural causes Sunday, the day before he was to speak at Leroy High School.
The Waddells began giving the presentations shortly after the death of their 15-year-old daughter, Ashley.
It began at Ashley’s visitation when Waddell approached Pekin Community High School District 303 Superintendent Paula Davis about his wish to display the wreckage of the vehicle in which Ashley and her friends had perished.  | 
