VIRGINIA BEACH (WTKR) — Trey Faulkner knows exactly what his brother-in-law, John Hefti, would think about receiving so much attention.
"He would be absolutely mortified," Faulkner said through a laugh. "He was such a humble guy."
Hefti, known by his nicknamed "Bag", was killed in a car crash in October of 2021. A Navy veteran and former little league baseball coach in Virginia Beach, many like Faulkner remember a man who simply wanted to serve and make others better.
Carrying on his legacy, the John Hefti Foundation awarded its first "Bag Hefti Scholarships" this month, one going to First Colonial student Tyler Klinger. A wrestler for the Patriots, Klinger is heading to the University of Virginia to study pre-law.
"Every day I was trying to be a leader like (Hefti) was in our community," Klinger said. "I'm grateful that I can live up to what his standards were to help out the community. "
Klinger saw a how much Hefti's loss hurt throughout the city and knew that being given the scholarship carries a weight to keep a legacy going.
"My counselor sat me down and told me about the story," Klinger said. "I was just in awe about the situation. I was grateful to be selected."
"We all saw how humble he was and how much that reminded us of John," Faulkner said. "It was important for us to find someone who had the same qualities that John did."
The scholarship is set to be given out year to a student at First Colonial, Kellam or Cox High School, the schools that John and his wife Tricia's children have attended or will attend in the future.
