T&F Athlete Robert Platt Dies in Boating Accident
6/27/2019 2:24:00 PM | Track and Field
The family of University of Houston pole vaulter Robert Platt has released details of the arrangements to honor his life.
A visitation will be held 5 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, July 2, at Earthman Southwest Funeral Home (12555 South Kirkwood, Stafford, Texas 77477).
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 3, at River Pointe Church (5000 Ransom Road, Richmond, Texas 77469) with a reception following at the church.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital on behalf of TKE/Robert Platt. Donors may make contributions by clicking here.
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HOUSTON – The University of Houston and Houston Athletics are mourning the loss of pole vaulter Robert Platt, who died in a boating accident on Lake LBJ in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday night.
His mother, Kaddie Platt, led the Houston Volleyball program from 2012 to 2019.
"I cannot express how devastated everyone in the Houston Track & Field program is. Robert was an outstanding young man, and our team was blessed to have him as a part of it for two years," Track & Field Head Coach Leroy Burrell said. "We share our condolences with Kaddie, their family and friends, and all who knew and loved Robert."
"Houston Athletics and our Track & Field program will always be grateful for the time we shared with Robert," Vice President for Athletics Chris Pezman said. "We will do all we can to help the Platt family and our student-athletes, and send our thoughts and prayers to Kaddie and Robert Sr., their family and friends.
Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced soon.
Platt was a member of two Houston Track & Field teams, which swept the American Athletic Conference Indoor and Outdoor Championships titles in back-to-back seasons. In 2018-19, he finished eighth in the pole vault at the Reveille Invitational with a height of 14-4 during the indoor season.
During the outdoor season, Platt cleared a career-best 15-3.5 at the Texas A&M Alumni Muster.
As a freshman in 2017-18, Platt finished fourth at the Leonard Hilton Invitational with a height of 15-1 during the indoor season and posted a pair of Top-10 finishes during the outdoor campaign.
Following his inaugural collegiate season, Platt was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team.
Before joining the Cougars, he was an award-winning high school star at George Ranch High School, where he finished third at the Class 6A State Championships as a senior.
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