Dion's Journey - The Full Story!

To know Dion Pinkard is to know his quiet temperament and determination to Finish Strong!

Dion's senior year as Legacy Preparatory's Team Captain, starting running back and middle linebacker was full of expectations and plans. His top priority was redeeming scholarship money toward a university, he would like to attend and then play football. In that order, as he would always say it!

Dion had a remarkable season in 2017-18 racking up a deserving Offensive Player of the Year Award, The Hitman of The Year Award and an Honorable Mention from the TAPPS organization and making 1st All District Team. 

In his Junior year, Legacy Lions battled the Colleyville Covenant Cougars in TAPPS Division IV for the State Championship. But Legacy lost the title to a 14-0 loss. The fight to State was filled with moments of victories and defeat but for Dion, the battle to win meant so much more! “For I know the plans I have for you” Jeremiah 29:11 his aunt’s favorite verses was written on his right shoe during the 2017 semi-finals. But eventually, he would lose his aunt to Lou Gehrig’s disease. Ironically, the team would face the Cougars from Colleyville, TX where his aunt would be laid to rest. The family's grave-site is located at Colleyville's Bluebonnet Cemetery.

The new year brought healing from sorrow and grief and Dion was ready to put 2017 behind him. He was hopeful and eager to start the season off with positive outcomes. He was selected by The Houston Touchdown Club as one of the preseason football players of the Year!  The summer of 2018 Dion stayed on A&M University for a week met with The Dean of Engineering he had multiple college tours, and attended their football team's closed workout sessions. 

The summer practice and workout regimen would carry on and Dion would be selected to appear in Houston’s Hype Magazine featured in The Flight Plan edition being interviewed for Legacy Prep’s hopeful return to State Finals.

Unfortunately, early in the season Dion suffered an uncommon catastrophic injury and would not return to the opportunities placed before him.

Who Knew?

By the end of the year the holidays would bring so much pain! Dion endured 5 surgeries and was bed-written. The artery behind his knee had ruptured in two, and his PCL had to be reconstructed. The pain was physical, emotional and most of all his spirit wounded.

What do you do when life changes your journey, and the travel arrangements were made but, the pieces never came together to get to your destination?

“People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.”  -Vince Lombardi

On September 7th, 2018 Legacy Lions faced John Cooper and Dion was on defense Dion went full-speed to gain a tackle. The fields were saturated and his cleats buried into the ground; forcing his right leg to remain as his body went the other way. Then it happened, the knee was popped! 

The moments were filled with intensity, and little did we realize there was little time to save Dion from his traumatic injury.

Dr. Chementi the team physician for John Cooper steered the ER Hermann Memorial team with his expertise until the head of the Trauma unit took control, Dr Hodges called in one of the best surgeons in the region Dr. Mattauer of The Woodlands, TX arrived at the Hermann Memorial Hospital it was 1 a.m. in the morning and without questions these medical heroes came armed and ready to save a young man’s withering leg and possibly his life!

For Dion, the directives pointed back to the scripture and the word of God which would be a lamp unto his feet Dion realized God never meant “YOU know the plans.” His word says, I know the plans and being totally surrendered He began to follow.