By Tim Wiles

On May 15, 2025, Frank Dees and his three surviving brothers Tim, Bill, and Denis met with Dr. Kelly Mclain, Superintendent of Schools in Litchfield, Illinois, to donate the framed football jersey worn by their late brother, Ricky Dees. The white Purple Panthers jersey will hang at the high school in memory of Rick, who died shortly after playing in an away football game in Staunton, Illinois on September 27, 1964, his senior year. Rick died early the following morning at St John’s Mercy Hospital in St. Louis.

All six Dees brothers played football for Litchfield. Rick planned to attend Southern Illinois University before his untimely death. Four of his five brothers graduated from SIU. Another brother, Charles died in a car crash in 2021.

In the week before his death, Rick, a defensive end, played in two football games for Litchfield High School. In the first game on Tuesday, he tackled a player and later developed a headache. The next day at school, Rick said to his younger brother and teammate Frank “I hurt my head. But don’t tell mom and dad. They won’t let me play.” Frank complied. On Saturday night’s away game, Ricky tackled another player, went to the sidelines, and collapsed. He died the next morning in the hospital. Frank and his brothers founded It’s Just A Game, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to increasing awareness about the dangers of concussions, in 2019. The website is www.concussion-safety.org.

Attached are a photo of Dr. Mclain accepting the jersey, with the brothers, L-R Bill, Frank, Tim, and Denis.

Also attached, a list of the top ten reasons athletes do not report head injuries. Rick was a member of the class of 1965, which will have it’s 60th reunion this summer.