“We had SWAT officers with guns on our campus,” Celena said. “It was getting bad. The year after we left, they closed the school down.”
Wanting a better life for his children, Duane Dodson moved his family to Texas. The triplets have an older sister, Shafawn, and three brothers, a 20-year-old in college, one 16 and another 10.
The triplets and their siblings were dealt a hard blow eight years ago when their mother died.
“These three young people are hard working – they work all the time, and are overcoming a great adversity,” said Chief Andy Lopez Jr.
Lopez and his wife, Sylvia, met Celena at Moya’s Cafe, one of Celena’s two jobs.
Brian works at Burger King. He’s saving his money to go to the Police Academy after graduation. Celena has been accepted at Texas A&M-Kingsville but still hasn’t decided whether she will join her oldest sister at Sam Houston. But all three triplets are focused on getting a higher education.
The kids quickly found a niche in Refugio. Celena says people are friendly here. Brian is no. 74 on the state championship team.
His friends in California watched the Bobcats win the state 2A football championship on television.
“I still get emotional,” Brian says. “It still hasn’t stuck, it doesn’t seem real.”
After the championship game, coach Jason Herring came into the locker room.
“He told the seniors, ‘I told you in 8th grade y’all would win state – now your picture will hang on the wall,’” Brian said. “That means a lot.”
Post a Comment