It’s not often there’s a running competition through the streets of D.C.’s Dupont Circle, where the main objective isn’t to finish first, but rather trying not to break a heel and fall flat on your face.

That was the general consensus of some of the participants at the 38th annual High Heel Race, held along 17th Street in Northwest on Tuesday night.

Over 200 participants gathered at the starting line at 17th and R streets, dressed in creative costumes and makeup, while the sidewalks were lined with fans and outdoor foodies, all waiting to see racers sprint down the street in various styles of footwear.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was the honorable host of the longtime neighborhood tradition that dates back to the late 80s.

The High Heel Race first began on Halloween of 1986 as a bet between two drag queens. Now, it continues to gain wide support from the D.C. area’s LGBTQ community.

At the end of the 2025 race, several racers crossed the finish line at the same time, prompting some participants to ask, “Who won?”

Ironically, many had the same answer — “Those who didn’t fall flat on their faces were the ones who won this race.”

The real winner was Parker Beckley of Bozeman, Montana, who won the race while painted head to toe in teal and gold makeup as the Statue of Liberty.

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There are more than 14,000 air traffic controllers who work for the Federal Aviation Administration. It’s work that is stressful and can be full of high-anxiety to begin with, and a shutdown and potential for massive job cuts compound the pressures of the job.

A recently retired, 35-year veteran controller who worked at several major U.S. facilities and airport towers told ������Ƶapp, “The air traffic profession is a stressful situation no matter what’s going on in the political sphere.”

It’s not the first time some controllers have expressed feeling that their jobs were being used as part of a game or tug-of-war between political parties. The former controllers’ union, PATCO, during former President Ronald Reagan’s administration, protesting wages and long work hours. Thousands of those striking workers were fired.

“Sometimes the profession is used as political pawns between the different parties, and it shouldn’t be that way. But funding for the Federal Aviation Administration is discretionary rather than mandatory and many don’t know that,” said the veteran controller, who ������Ƶapp agreed to keep anonymous.

Already, there have been staffing issues at several U.S. airports where control towers have gone understaffed, such as in Burbank, California, and Nashville, Tennessee.

There’s been a growing amount of general flight delays and cancellations, including at Reagan National Airport. Those numbers continue to grow by the day as the number of shutdown days increase.

“Safety is No. 1, paramount, in every controller’s mind,” the veteran controller said. “They are a highly-skilled, technical workforce that they’re able to mostly put their problems aside and do the job safely and efficiently day in and day out.”

During the shutdown period, there hasn’t been any documented airline or airport incidents relating to a lack of safety reported by airlines or government agencies.

In the case where the control tower at Burbank Airport was not staffed, operations and airport traffic were handled by San Diego controllers, CNN reported.

������Ƶapp was told by the veteran controller that hearing about an empty tower is disconcerting, however, takeoff and arrival routes and sequences operate much like vehicles lining up to exit and reenter a major highway.

“You still need great communication between pilots and the controllers, but it’s a manageable situation,” the veteran controller said.

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When you think of pizza in the D.C. area, most people would say they don’t have one favorite over others. There are so many styles, with so many variations and presentations nowadays, that quality and history are often ignored.

However, one name that usually has people saying, “Ah, I remember having their pizza,” is Armand’s, which is celebrating 50 years in the business of serving Chicago-style pizza in the District.

In the 1970s, Armand’s owner, the late Lew Newmyer, had the idea of bringing a new style of pizza to D.C.

“New York or thin crust never entered into the conversation,” said Lew’s son and the business’ current co-owner, Ron Newmyer.

He said his dad constantly thought ‘outside-the-pizza-box’ and was determined to bring something different to the D.C. area and he did — Chicago-style deep dish pizza.

Lew Newmyer was originally a liquor salesman, then moved into the food business selling submarine sandwiches. While on a business trip to Chicago, Lew discovered deep-dish pizza and was determined to bring the thick crust and heavy cheese recipe to upper Northwest D.C.

In 1975, Armand’s opened on Wisconsin Avenue in Tenleytown.

“It kind of took off like a rocket. It was exciting and thrilling,” Ron Newmyer said.

Popular dishes included the usual cheese and pepperoni slices, but Armand’s took a chance and succeeded at a veggie pizza and even a spinach and garlic one.

First families

Through the years, the Tenleytown location not only became a popular hangout with area college and high school students, but Kennedy Center actors and former first families visited Armand’s as well.

With a huge smile and gleam in his eyes, Ron Newmyer told ������Ƶapp the story of how back in 2009, the restaurant line rang and the U.S. Secret Service called to ask if the Obama family could visit.

“A gentleman introduced himself as a member of the Secret Service and said that Michelle Obama and her daughters were going to be coming in with some friends for a party … and that I should be downstairs to greet them,” he said.

Other notable Tenleytown guests included late President Jimmy Carter’s daughter, Amy Carter, along with professional hockey, basketball and football athletes.

Aside from the who’s who that made Armand’s a D.C. destination, it was Lew Newmyer who was one of the first people to introduce the area to pizza delivery.

A vision for delivery

Newmyer didn’t just buy a few cars and hire area teenagers to deliver his food. Instead, he bought a fleet of specially designed mini-trucks that were customized for Armand’s and featured built-in heaters to keep the pizzas warm.

“He is a visionary in the senses of business, and he foresaw that pizza delivery was going to be a big thing,” Ron Newmyer said. “He did it in such a big way.”

Now, with a post-COVID environment of inconsistent customer traffic and out of control pricing, Armand’s is still able to stand strong and celebrate 50 years in the restaurant business.

While Armand’s has not changed its pizza or style through the years, the Tenleytown location is long gone. But Armand’s continues to serve loyal, deep-dish customers in Rockville, Maryland.

That’s where customers will find the same mural from Tenleytown featuring Lew Newmyer and his smiling face, overlooking the main dining room as he makes sure every pizza is a winner, just like his longtime business.

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Take the C&O Canal: It began the year with 70 employees. The staff has since been reduced to 65.

Following criticism of nationwide cuts to the National Park Service staff, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum ordered parks to “remain open and accessible” in April and called for a review of parks’ operating hours and limits on visitor services.

examined President Donald Trump’s ongoing cutbacks and how those changes may impact national parks, including some in the D.C. area. He spoke with ������Ƶapp reporter Steve Dresner about the state of some of the parks and what could be on the horizon.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. You can read Dave Jamieson’s report .

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The book, which is available on July 8, covers many topics, including racial issues and Clark’s unfortunate “snub” by the U.S. Olympic Committee that left her off the women’s basketball team roster.

But Brennan told ������Ƶapp Clark is more than just an athlete.

“She’s a basketball player, yes, but she’s really an entertainer. When you watch her play, she’s the high-wire act at the circus,” Brennan said.

Brennan said she had a “wow moment” during the writing phase when watching the rising women’s basketball star in person, calling Clark “impressive.”

“She looks you in the eye and goes on and on with her answers, that’s something pro-athletes never do,” she said.

The viewership numbers don’t lie. Neither do the paid attendance numbers at team arenas. When Clark is healthy and part of the active roster, home or away, it usually means a sellout and TV viewership is well above average.

This season, Clark has experienced two separate injuries and has missed nearly eight games due to them. Her on-the-court absence, due to injury, has yielded low ticket sales and drastically reduced ratings.

News reports state deals with Nike, Gatorade, Wilson and other major companies, earn Clark over $3.5 million annually from endorsements alone, and her 2024 WNBA salary was only 1% of her total 2024 earnings. Clark said remaining humble and respecting her fans always need to be a priority regardless of the success.

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We know several council members haven’t been shy to voice their strong disapproval of the plan, citing the timing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a new stadium during tough financial times — even a potential recession.

In addition, not everyone — some residents and retail owners who own property around RFK Stadium — is completely sold that the new stadium deal will revitalize or even “save” their side of the city. All are real, legit arguments and will eventually be decided by the council in the months ahead.

But for a moment, let’s discuss a “what if” and what a new Commanders stadium could mean to a recently struggling franchise and the District.

Good for the NFL, DC, fans

I’ve spent many years covering NFL teams that have either moved to another city or have built a new stadium in their current location, and I must say, having Commissioner Roger Goodell at Monday’s press conference certainly reinforced the league’s ongoing commitment to bring the Commanders back to D.C.

Believe it or not, the league has been looking for ways to bring the team back to D.C. for many years. It’s no secret that the former owner of the Commanders constantly opposed a name change until the corporate and financial pressures became too much. Following the 2019 season, the franchise has gone through two name changes.

However, during the last few years of Dan Snyder’s tenure, rumors swirled that the league offered to help with a new stadium deal and do whatever it took to bring the Commanders back to the District.

Neither rumors nor creative business ideas seemed to influence Snyder, and no progress was ever made during his 24 years of controlling the team.

Goodell perfectly summarized the thoughts of many on Monday, saying a new stadium deal would benefits everyone as a whole.

“The stadium project announced today promises to be great for the fans, the team, and the District and the NFL,” Goodell said. “It also makes us better as a club, as a league, and all of our clubs playing in a world class stadium in front of passionate fans is one of our big objectives.”

An NFL executive, who didn’t want to be identified, told ������Ƶapp Goodell’s comments really expressed the feelings of many teams. This executive also noted that most teams would look forward to staying at a hotel that’s closer to a downtown stadium rather than traveling the usual 30-40 minutes it currently take to Northwest Stadium.

The Commanders’ current home, Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, has been long considered one of the worst stadiums in the NFL and not user-friendly for fans or players.

In the last 25 years, whether it was a new stadium in Nashville, Las Vegas or even Los Angeles, the NFL didn’t always have a physical presence at a press conference or “agreement ceremony.”

It is somewhat rare to have Goodell present at a stadium agreement announcement, but on Monday, the league truly showed how much it is behind this project.

DC’s respect returns

The trend has been when a brand new, state-of-the art stadium opens for business, there eventually comes a Super Bowl, Final Four, or a multiday tour stop by a pop artist like Taylor Swift. In addition, a new stadium makes the D.C. area stand out even more as a FIFA World Cup host site or even a destination for the NHL’s Winter Classic series.

Maybe, for the first time in many years, D.C. would be part of the conversation when deciding a future venue for a high-profile event.

The last hypothetical has already being going on since the day Josh Harris acquired ownership of the Commanders in July 2023. However, it’s still a work in progress.

Before Harris took over ownership of the team, Snyder spent the better part of 24 years making all of the wrong moves and that included alienating many of the former players, who once would do anything for the Burgundy and Gold, on and off the field.

“In those early years of the new owner back in the early 2000s, myself and most of my teammates would never hear from the team, and the phone was silent,” former Washington center Jeff Bostic told ������Ƶapp.

As original member of “The Hogs,” Bostic was often dumbfounded that his phone didn’t ring that much from the team’s administrative staff.

Bostic said, as an alum, he was rarely asked to attend any team functions or in-game events through the years.

“Yes, I came up for a few halftime ceremonies, but it just didn’t feel right,” Bostic said.

Since Harris became Washington’s new owner, have changes taken place for the better and have the historical meaning and spirit started to return to the area?

Oh yes!

Suppose a new Commanders stadium becomes our reality and opens in the fall of 2030 as advertised. In that case, it will be the cherry on top of a bittersweet item that the NFL, Harris and every D.C.-area football fan has ever dreamed about in their lifetime.

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Plenty of emotions can be felt throughout the hallways at Children’s National Hospital in Northwest D.C., and at this time of year, those emotions are magnified to unspoken levels.

“My child will probably be here anywhere from 29-32 weeks a year and it’s never easy to take turns visiting my son especially during Christmas,” one father who preferred not to be named told ������Ƶapp.

The medical care is one part, but he said the emotional support is unbelievable during the holiday season.

What really makes it special for those who celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah is the ability for parents or relatives of children who are given the opportunity to visit a very special “store” within the hospital. It’s called “Dr. Bear’s Holiday Toy Shoppe,” and for many, it’s also been described as a lifesaver.

It’s maybe the size of a typical, hospital gift store that’s filled wall-to-wall with toys, card games, books and even scooters. All of the merchandise has been donated by various D.C.-based individuals or organizations and is totally free for children and their families.

“On our first day, close to 150 families came and picked out items not only for their child that’s in the hospital, but also get to pick out items for their children at home so they’re not forgotten,” said Tawni Rochester, the hospital’s manager of child-life services and supervisor of the program.

Children could be at the hospital for a few days or a week, while others will stay for months at a time.

For some parents, visiting Dr. Bear’s Toy Shoppe is nothing less than a holiday miracle.

“The kids here are going through a lot, but Christmas, I don’t think they’ll feel (anything) but joy. At Christmastime, these guys are going above and beyond,” a mother of twins told ������Ƶapp.

The toy donation program is a year-round effort for staff members, along with an extensive list of volunteers, who begin a new campaign just days into the new year.

Late Monday afternoon, word spread that several trucks arrived at the hospital’s delivery docks and were stuffed with plastic bags of donated toys such as games and popular toys.

“Seeing these truck loads of toys left us speechless,” said Carol Ballena, the program’s volunteer coordinator. “It’s just an amazing feeling to be able to provide this for families, and literally getting goose bumps looking at the piles and piles of toys behind me and that makes me happy we can bring that cheer for a family.”

The hospital said it’s prepared for any last minute changes in a patient’s status, whether it’s a child is leaving before, during or after the holidays — no child or parent will be left without a holiday present.

������Ƶapp/Steve Dresner

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Minutes after officers arrived to the scene, police said they took Denis Humberto Navarette Romero, 31, into custody on a charge of abduction with intent to defile and rape. Police said the victim didn’t know Romero before the assault.

“This is the only stranger rape that we have had in the town in my more than 12 years as chief of police,” Chief Maggie DeBoard said at a Tuesday news conference.

DeBoard said the woman was walking on the trail between Ferndale Avenue and Grace Street when the suspect grabbed her arm, forced her to the ground and raped her. Afterward, she flagged down a passerby who called for help just before 9 p.m.

Police said Romero is no stranger to law enforcement, and he has a history of sexual assault and exposures in the region, including in Herndon.

“What is disturbing is the number of times this individual has been arrested and released,” said DeBoard.

Based on his prior arrests and comments Romero made to police, DeBoard said officials believe there may be other victims and are encouraging anyone with information to contact the department.

The public trail is a well-traveled route by avid cyclists and pedestrians. Police said they will have uniformed officers patrolling the route to ease any concerns from the public.

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As sunset was approaching Tuesday evening on the National Mall in D.C., roughly 10,000 battery-powered candles were evenly spread out with framed pictures of family and friends who’ve been killed by a drunk driver.

The candles were symbolic of the total of people killed by a drunk driver annually, which has surpassed 13,000 since 2019, according to.

(MADD) along with supporters, members of Congress and the National Transportation Safety Board, gathered on the Mall to show their continued support for anti-drunk driving technology in U.S. vehicles. Some legislation has been passed, but the HALT rules concerning required technology for automakers recently missed a completion deadline and it remains an ongoing issue on Capitol Hill.

The HALT Act, signed into law on Nov. 15, 2021, “directs the federal government to require all new cars come equipped with smart technology that passively, seamlessly and unobtrusively detects and stops impaired driving,” according to MADD.

As a part of that act, the U.S. Department of Transportation was required to complete its final regulation for anti-drunk driving technology by Nov. 15, 2024. But the department missed the deadline.

“The fact of the matter is, this technology that exists today, but is not in cars,” said MADD CEO Stacey Stewart. “If this technology were in cars today, it would save 10,000 lives per year.”

She acknowledged many have been waiting on the federal government to complete a rule so the technology can be introduced to U.S. automakers.

Other members in attendance Tuesday evening included Rana Taylor, a Michigan resident who lost her sister, brother in-law and their three children in a crash involving a drunk driver.

“We could spout numbers, say, 10,000 lives lost here, X amount of lives impacted here,” Taylor said, while among the display of soft-white, flickering candles and family photos.

“But it’s really something different when you can visually see that impact, and to be able to help put this on display for people … feels to me like just such an incredible way to honor these individuals who’ve lost their lives so tragically.”

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In late July, the longtime voice of the Capitals was diagnosed with colon cancer, and last month, he underwent a 10-hour surgical procedure to remove 8-10 inches of his colon.

“I’m happy to say that after the operation, that I am cancer-free,” Walton said. “I don’t need any chemotherapy, which is something I was pretty sure that I was going to need.”

Like many, Walton said it took a lot to reveal his cancer in late August. He stressed the universal theme of the importance of getting checked.

“If you’re a man or woman over the age of 45, you need to do the same thing,” Walton said. “I’m 51, and I probably waited a little too long, and thankfully, I was able to catch things in time.”

After the lengthy cancer surgery, Walton was trying to focus on his recovery and looking forward to hockey training camp starting in mid-September.

But not more than 24 hours after the surgery, an unexpected condition arose.

Walton found himself back in the emergency room where he needed the first of four procedures performed on his left leg and calf area, as another medical condition immediately came to light, he said.

“It’s called compartment syndrome, and there’s four compartments in your leg, and all four of mine were affected,” Walton said.

With compartment syndrome, pressure around the affected muscles restricts blood flow and prevents fresh oxygen and nutrients from reaching nerves, causing severe pain,. If the pressure continues to build, it can cause necrosis, or tissue death, resulting in permanent damage or even death.

In the span of seven days, Walton had a total of four surgeries to treat his leg.

“It was a bit of an emergency situation once the swelling had gotten to a point that it needed to be opened up, which was a second surgery,” Walton said. “A third (was) to close it up, but they couldn’t close up both sides, so then a fourth surgery (was) to close the second side.”

Along with recovering from cancer surgery, which caused abdominal pain and discomfort, Walton could barely walk after his leg procedures. He was advised to begin physical therapy as soon as possible to get his muscles active again.

After fighting through the two medical ailments, Walton was back to work and behind the mic of the first preseason game against Philadelphia Sunday afternoon, giving a play-bay-play radio call for the Capitals on WFED 1500 AM radio.

Walton said he’s on the road to recovery with his leg and plans to have a limited schedule before the regular season gets underway.

“There are sometimes complications you don’t expect, and I didn’t get dealt a very good hand on that one,” Walton said. “But if you were going to hand me a complication versus a clean pathology report, I think I’d take that 100 times out of 100.”

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Walton, who has been the radio voice of the Caps since 2011, took to social media and revealed that during a colonoscopy last month, doctors discovered the cancer.

“My prognosis according to my incredible doctors at MedStar Health is good. It will be a few days after the surgery until I know what comes next, but if all goes well, I will be at training camp in a few weeks, and in the broadcast booth for the first preseason game,” he

Some personal news to share, and it’s a little rough. I’ve been diagnosed with colon cancer.

— John Walton (@JohnWaltonPxP)

This week, he was scheduled for surgery to have 8 to10 inches of his colon removed, along with a cancerous mass.

“I will be in a fight for a bit, but it’s a fight I’m going to win,” Walton wrote.

He urged other men over the age of 45 to get checked: “Don’t put it off, get it done for you and your family.”

• Colon Cancer Symptoms That Are Easily Overlooked

Before taking over the play-by-play duties with the Capitals, Walton also served as the radio voice of the Caps minor league team, the Hershey Bears, and a one-time public address announcer for MLB’s Cincinnati Reds.

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Montgomery County high schools in Maryland begin their football season in two weeks and, once again, safety and security remain atop everyone’s playbook.

Many can’t forget an ugly incident that took place in September 2022 when a fight broke out on the field between Gaithersburg and Northwest high school involving players and coaches that eventually led to both programs being temporarily suspended.

Last September, after a game between two rivals featuring Walter Johnson and Bethesda-Chevy Chase high schools, a fight broke out near the Bethesda Metro station with students from both schools in which several altercations took place.

For this season, Montgomery County Public Schools has implemented some different rules for family, friends, and students, who plan to attend upcoming sports events at county high schools.

According to Jeff Sullivan, MCPS’ director of athletics, a positive move has been the addition of an old familiar face to county law enforcement. On July 1, retired county police chief Marcus Jones was named chief of security and compliance for MCPS.

Sullivan told ������Ƶapp: “I am very much looking forward to him and his expertise and leadership, what he is going to bring not just MCPS athletics, but MCPS as a whole, to really enhance what we’re doing.”

In early July, the school board voted unanimously to appoint Jones, whose resume includes 38 years with the Montgomery County Police Department. Now, the 59-year-old is responsible for safety and security for the district’s more than 200 schools.

For those attending county sports events, Sullivan said elementary and middle school students will be required to have parental supervision to enter a facility, there’s no reentry to any venue, and no backpacks will be allowed. In addition, high school students will be required to show a current school ID or class schedule and must be a member of one of the participating schools playing that location’s game.

Sullivan added: “We’ll have security and administrators at the gate, which we’ve had in the past, and we’ll also have police presence there as well at our games.”

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On the morning of Oct. 18, 2023, Patrick Kepp was trying to stop 19-year-old Raphael Mayorga, of Frederick, Maryland, who was suspected of driving drunk and trying to “provoke” officers into a chase on Interstate 270. Kepp was deploying “stop sticks” to deflate the teen’s tires when police say Mayorga intentionally struck him.

Now, eight months and 10 surgeries later, Kepp, 37, is nearly ready to rejoin the force, and make college football history as well.

On top of his job at the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD), Kepp works as a line judge in Division 1 college football. He’s on track to return for his first game in the fall for either the Coastal Athletic Association, Ivy League or Patriot League Conference, and would become the first official with prosthetic legs to officiate a Division 1 game.

Kepp credits the personnel at Baltimore’s Shock Trauma Center and rehab staff at Walter Reed Naval Medical in Bethesda with saving his life, and giving him the chance to work again — something he’s been striving for since the October crash.

“Just after the incident, I would sit with Pat in the hospital and all he spoke about was getting back to work and how he was making it back to the football field,” said Lt. Brendon Johnston with MCPD, who also officiates college football.

Kepp left Shock Trauma in December for a long-term rehab program at Walter Reed. There, Kepp’s weekday routine includes weight and motion therapy, along with various swimming exercises.

“I’m involved with a special group of people who’ve experienced similar injuries and we feed off of each other during our rehab sessions,” Kepp told ������Ƶapp.

Courtesy Patrick Kepp

Courtesy Patrick Kepp

Courtesy Patrick Kepp

Courtesy Patrick Kepp

Courtesy Patrick Kepp

Courtesy Patrick Kepp

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At the end of the day, he returns back to his Walter Reed on-base residence, where he’ll cook and do additional private workouts. On the weekends, Kepp spends his time at his Frederick County home and visits with his parents while closely following the Baltimore Orioles and Ravens.

While some may not clearly remember the moments directly following a traumatic injury, Kepp said he can still recall being taken out of his vehicle surrounded by a pool of blood. He thought to himself that he’s never flown in a medevac helicopter.

Many didn’t think Kepp would survive.

“I knew things were bad when I was flying to Shock Trauma in Baltimore, but I just kept focusing on the fact I was still alive,” he said.

However, dealing with the reality of losing both legs will be a lifelong battle.

“Losing one leg is bad enough, but losing both legs has been a very difficult things to grasp,” he said.

While he doesn’t say he has three jobs, he started to play a role off the field and outside his typical duties as a police officer — inspiring others.

“I’ve met with potential police recruits and people interested in law enforcement. But most off all, it’s great to talk with people who are sometimes down in life and I’m able to bring a positive outlook for them and help them turn things around, like I’m trying to do with myself.”

Kepp’s return to MCPD will be one of the most anticipated dates on his calendar, along with taking a step on the field for his first officiating assignment of the upcoming college football season.

However, Kepp said, “like my law enforcement job, I work at a pretty high level in Division 1 football and I’m not going to go out there if I’m not ready.”

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Early on the morning of Oct. 18, the 36-year-old experienced what most law enforcement personnel would consider a devastating crash, which resulted in both of his legs being amputated.

Today, 10 surgical procedures later, he’s finally on a positive but lengthy path to recovery and rehabilitation. He was able to wheel himself out of the hospital on Dec. 7.

It’s been two months since that fateful day on Interstate 270, when 19-year-old Raphael Mayorga, of Frederick, intentionally struck Kepp. The officer was attempting to stop Mayorga who was suspected of driving drunk. Kepp parked his cruiser on the crossover of the interstate and got out to deploy “stop sticks” to deflate the tires of the swerving car.

“The vehicle is observed actually intentionally moving from the middle lanes to the far left lanes and Mayorga came directly at Sgt. Kepp as he was deploying the ‘stop sticks,'” Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones said after the incident. “He intentionally struck Sgt. Kepp in the main lanes of I-270.”

Kepp said he has been nothing less than “shocked” by how much acknowledgment and support he has received from all sorts of people.

“It took me a while to realize that there are people from around the world that this [incident] has impacted. I’ve had some pretty famous people reach out to me and I still can’t believe it,” he said.

Moving forward

What does the road to recovery and putting your life back together entail for Kepp?

For now, his new living quarters will be at Walter Reed along, his time filled with physical and occupational therapy sessions.

But one of the most remarkable things about Kepp is how he has already affected the lives of others.

Kepp told a story about a potential recruit that had doubts about joining the police force until he heard Jones speaking about his recovery during a press conference. Jones talked about Kepp’s desire to one day return to duty in some capacity, despite his life-altering injuries.

“It gave that person hope and changed their mind about joining the force,” he said.

For now, Kepp is letting his actions speak louder than words during his recovery journey.

There’s no definitive timeframe for when he’ll permanently leave Walter Reed. There’s plenty of learning ahead for both Kepp and the community supporting him.

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Former tight end Frank Wycheck died at his Chattanooga, Tennessee, home Saturday from what’s being described as a fatal head injury due to an accidental fall. Wycheck was 52. Per his request, his family plans to work with .

While his 11-year pro career stands out, it was his time playing at Maryland that set him up for success. Wycheck played for the Terrapins from 1990-92, hauling in 134 receptions, the most by a tight end and seventh-most by any player in school history. He finished his career at Maryland with 1,183 receiving yards and was a 1991 Second Team All-ACC selection.

Maryland Football mourns the loss of Terrapin legend Frank Wycheck

Our thoughts are with his family and friends

— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball)

For Johnny Holliday, the longtime voice of Maryland Football, Wycheck was “tough as nails” and stood out from everyone else. However, once you got to know him, Holliday told ������Ƶapp the tight end was a “very special guy” off the field as well.

“Frank Wycheck had a tremendous personality, and just he was always smiling,” Holliday said. “I never saw the guy down. He was always upbeat, always positive. And even though [the Terps] were struggling with their records, he was always optimistic.”

The broadcaster recalled Wycheck’s 14-catch, 100-plus-recieving-yard performance against Virginia Tech, which is tied for the second most catches in a game in the program’s history. He excelled as a receiver while he was primarily at Maryland as a blocker, making his contributions as a tight end in the college and pro levels “underrecognized” Holliday said.

“He was a blocker, he could do that as well as anybody and he could catch the ball as well as anybody,” Holliday said.

Following his career as a Terp, Wycheck was drafted by Washington in the 6th round of the NFL Draft in 1993. After being released in 1995, Wycheck was picked up off waivers by the Houston Oilers, which eventually moved to Tennessee.

That’s where the three-time All-Pro spent the bulk of his career, playing 137 games for the Titans and setting a team record with at least one reception in 99 consecutive games.

Wycheck’s claim to fame was his role in the “” play against Buffalo during an AFC Wild Card playoff game Jan. 8, 2000, in Nashville.

After the Bills went ahead by one with 16 seconds remaining, on the ensuing kickoff, Wycheck threw a cross-field lateral to wide receiver Kevin Dyson, who took it 75 yards to score the game-winning touchdown for the Titans.

Despite critics claiming Wycheck’s lateral was an illegal forward pass, the “Music City Miracle” stands as one of the greatest finishes in NFL history.

The Tennessee Titans mourn the loss of a beloved member of our Titans family, Frank Wycheck

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans)

During his 11-year career, Wycheck recorded 505 receptions for 5,126 yards and 28 touchdowns while being voted to the Pro Bowl three times. He ranked fourth all-time among tight ends in career receptions at the time of his retirement.

Meanwhile, from afar, Holliday watched the former Terp excel while always remembering Wycheck as “a delightful guy to be around.”

“I was always proud of everything that he did,” Holliday said. “And I thought he should have gotten more nationwide recognition.”

Wycheck is survived by two daughters, Deanna and Madison, and their spouses; and his grandchildren, Leo, Stevie and August.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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