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Clark High School legend Luke Werner dies

By KRISTEN DESILVA REVIEWJOURNAL.COM
May 1, 2015 - 9:02 am
 
Luke Werner is hugged by a Clark High School student. (Las Vegas Review-Journal file)
Luke Werner, right, is seen with retired Clark High School football Coach Larry Barnson. (Courtesy, Rita Werner Allenye)

A high school community, friends and family are mourning after a family member says a Clark High School legend died early Friday morning at the age of 58.

Luke Werner was known as “Mr. Charger,” after the school’s mascot. Luke’s sister, Rita Werner Alleyne, had been updating friends on Facebook with his condition.

Friday morning, Alleyne updated friends and family with his passing.

“Luke is in charge of the hallways of heaven now. May Day has a new meaning to me. He sure changed the world. What a force of goodness,” she wrote. “My brother, my pal … I miss you already. My heart is bruised and sore and I will not do this transition easily. So happy for your comfort though, sweetie!”

Luke graduated from Clark High School in 1976. After graduation, he stuck around as a volunteer to help out coaches and work as a hall monitor, according to former students. He became known as a friend of anyone who’s passed through Clark’s hallways in the last four decades.

Alleyne said last week he had been physically weakened by a heart failure and a past battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma nine years ago.

Last week, Luke was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma and began chemotherapy sessions.

A YouCaring profile has been set up for Luke’s family. Former and current students have spread the word on social media to help his family with donations, including a campaign to involve late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, another Clark High School alum.

Kimmel tweeted about it on Tuesday, calling out to his other Clark alumni.

“Las Vegas Clark HS alumni —let’s help Luke A.K.A. ‘Mr. Charger’ with medical expenses,” Kimmel tweeted.

Contact Kristen DeSilva at 702-477-3895 or kdesilva@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @kristendesilva

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