By Derrick Smith
Paxton Dickerson is one of those students that beams school pride. It does not matter if it is a sporting event, band, choir concert, or something else, if it has to do with the Healdton Bulldogs, he will be there to support it. Paxton says what he loves most about his school and community is how everyone is there for each other in good times and bad.
“I like all the great people who hurt when someone else hurts,” he said. “They also celebrate when others succeed. I also love the great small community atmosphere and how everyone bands together for so many various triumphs and tragedies within our community.”
As an eighth-grade student at Healdton Middle School, Paxton has been named the 2022 Southwestern Oklahoma Editor’s Choice Hometown Hero. Justin Kana coaches a few different sports at Healdton, and he says that Dickerson is an outstanding choice for this honor.
“Paxton is a special-needs student who plays basketball and plays in the band,” Kana said. “He is the ultimate Bulldog fan for all activities. He live-streams games on his Facebook page and announces starting lineups at the basketball games. He is always cheering on his Bulldogs from the stands when not participating. Paxton recently recovered from an ATV/car accident that almost took his life. He had his mouth wired shut for six weeks and was in the hospital for over a month and underwent many surgical procedures. He returned to school last week and got his wires off. He is truly a miracle and definitely a hometown hero.”
Being called a hometown hero is something special for Paxton but he says he’s just doing what he likes to do.
“To be called a hometown hero means I have done something that many feel is hero worthy,” he said. “But I just think I’m a regular kid who just does what makes me happy and what I enjoy doing.”
On those rare occasions when he is not at a Bulldog event, Dickerson knows how to spend his time.
“I like playing the drums, cheering, riding ATVs, chasing storms, watching all kinds of sports, traveling and playing the Xbox,” he said. “I have had a lot of people that have been there for me. My mom, dad, my best friend Nate who just graduated from Oklahoma State University, and most importantly Jesus Christ.”
Paxton has two other teams that are at the top of his favorites list. They are the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
