Kevin Ellis Boyles loved sports, the outdoors, and time with family and friends. He was a 22-year-old senior at West Virginia University when he died from an undetected cardiac condition. Kevin, who had just affirmed his donor designation when he renewed his driver's license six weeks prior to his death, became a tissue and cornea donor. There was a huge outpouring of support from his hometown and college community following his passing, and inspired by Kevin, many signed up to become donors themselves.

Kevin's Story

Kevin Ellis Boyles was a loving son, brother, grandson, cousin and friend who touched the lives of many people. The son of Kenneth and Annette Boyles, Kevin had a twin brother, Keith, and a younger brother, Douglas. A native of Point Pleasant, W.V., Kevin graduated from Point Pleasant High School in 1993 and attended West Virginia University, where he was pursuing a degree in forestry.

Kevin excelled in sports. He played basketball, soccer, baseball and football and was named "Most Athletic" by his high school's senior class. He loved life and the outdoors, and cherished time with family and friends. One of his professors described him as "well-liked by his classmates and highly respected by his professors, being courteous, intelligent and having a quiet integrity, which were hallmarks of his character." Another described him as "a lively presence in my classes, a really nice kid."

Kevin was a senior in college at the time of his sudden death on April 30, 1997 at age 22. Kevin's parents learned of his passing on the phone with the emergency room physician at Ruby Memorial Hospital. It was his father who informed the doctor that the family wanted Kevin to be a donor. Kevin's parents knew that this was the right thing to do and it was what Kevin would have wanted as well. Kevin was, in fact, already a donor, having affirmed his donor designation just renewed his driver's license six weeks prior to his death.

As a tissue and cornea donor, he was able to touch the lives of others. Kevin's family is comforted in knowing that two people can now see the world through their son's eyes. Additionally, many others received life-saving or healing tissue transplants because of his generous gift.

Kevin's family later learned that he died as a result of an undetected cardiac condition called viral myocarditis. There was a huge outpouring of support from the Point Pleasant and West Virginia University following his death, and many members of the community were inspired by Kevin's gift of life and signed up to become donors themselves.

"Our spirits are lifted as we are reminded that we carried out Kevin's wishes by giving the gift of life, and by knowing we have helped to light up the world with compassion and courage," said Kevin's mother, Annette.