Keena Frizzell, 22, was enjoying a night with friends Sunday on the banks of Grindstone Lake when he decided he was going to swim across it. Frizzell didn’t make it.
“We received a call at about 5 a.m. (Monday) reporting a body in the water,” said Detective Sgt. Ray Merritt of the Ruidoso Police Department.
Merritt said when officers responded, the police found four people performing CPR on Frizzell.
“He was trying to swim to the other side of the lake,” Merritt said. “We are calling this an accidental drowning.”
Frizzell was one of eight siblings. His oldest brother, Frizzell Frizzell Jr., is the chief operating officer of the Inn of the Mountain Gods and Casino. Keena worked at the casino and had recently been promoted to table game supervisor.
Chris Frizzell, one of Keena’s brothers, said Keena was “the best person, had a good attitude and everybody loved him.”
Keena was ambitious and caring. He told Chris he would be president of the tribe one day.
One of Keena’s closest friends, Josh Hamilton, said it was hard not to love Keena.
“You just knew there was an underlying loyalty,” Hamilton said.
When the boys were in first grade together at Sierra Vista Primary School, Hamilton and Keena met when Hamilton slighted a friend of Keena’s and was bowled over on the asphalt in the playground.
Hamilton said he had two thoughts when that happened: “This kid needs to be drafted to the NFL,” and “I want this kid on my side.”
It took him until about eighth grade, but Hamilton and Keena were on the football team together in middle school and the boys became fast friends.
“We were inseparable after high school,” Hamilton said. The two even attended New Mexico State University and were roommates. Keena studied business administration but left before graduating because he felt he could do more good with the Inn of the Mountain Gods and the Mescalero Apache Tribe.
“He was a crazy person with crazy ideas,” Hamilton said with a smile. “You were never bored with Keena. He didn’t take boredom well.”
Another one of Keena’s friends, Lee Carter, said Keena was driven in his career and had big goals for his life. From when they were in high school together Keena talked of acquiring land where they could put up wind turbines and give the energy away to those who needed it.
“He always wanted to give back,” Carter said. “There is no question in my mind he would have driven across the country to pick up a soda if I asked him.”
Chris also talked about his brother’s loyalty and strength.
“He was one of the strongest guys I ever met,” Chris said. “He always loved football. The Redskins was his favorite team, he loved it.”
Keena was a member of the Ruidoso High School Football team from 2006 to 2008, both linebacker and on the defensive line. Warriors football coach Keif Johnson remembers him as a strong member of the team and a powerful participant within the group of friends Keena was a part of.
“All these guys made a tight knit group,” Johnson said. “They were energetic, a good group of young men.”
He said Keena worked hard in both the weight room and on the field.
“He always had a smile on his face, but he was a tenacious football player,” Johnson said. “He kept the team pumped up and going. He will be dearly missed.”
“We appreciate the kindness and prayers from everyone that loved Keena,” the Frizzell family wrote in a statement to the Ruidoso News. “It is a devastating loss for our family. He is very loved by all of us and we miss him dearly. His fun loving nature, big smiles and big hugs will forever live in our hearts.”
Article source: http://www.ruidosonews.com/ruidoso-news/ci_26071258/keena-frizzell-leaves-legacy-loyalty-strength-and-humor