About Michael

Michael was an adventurous young man. Growing up in the country, he loved all things outdoors. But rodeo was his first love, and his passion was riding bulls. Although he was anxious to finish high school, he was eager to begin his college career the next fall, where he had been invited to be on the rodeo team. He had goals. But tragically, alcohol came between him and his goals. The night of his graduation from high school, he and friends had a party to celebrate. We knew alcohol would be involved, so we made him promise that he would not drive home afterwards, and instead, wait to come home the next day after he had sobered up. But once again, alcohol got in the way. The alcohol told Michael he was fine, and invincible, and that he could get home and sleep in a soft, warm bed. But the alcohol lied. Michael fell asleep on his way home, and crashed his car. He was flown to a city hospital where we watched him take his last breath, three days later. Michael was one of the most giving people – even from a very young age. He offered one of his kidneys to a friend who only had one, and wasn’t allowed to ride bulls because of the risk of injury. Of course, if Michael had given him a kidney, then he would only have one, and would not be allowed to ride bulls. But Michael only thought about the “giving” part! So when we were told Michael could be a candidate for organ donation (because he didn’t die on impact from the crash, and was subsequently declared brain-dead), we agreed that it is something he would approve of. The day after his death, his organs saved the lives of 8 people – very fitting for a young man whose life revolved around an 8-second ride on a bull. Michael’s “giving” philosophy is also what help inspire us to form the Michael Glynn Memorial Coalition – in the hopes of changing the social norms of underage drinking, and saving the lives of others.