Body of Craig Morgan's son found after Tennessee River search
Chris Gadd, Cindy Watts, Andy Simmons and Ariana Sawyer, asawyer@tennessean.com 10:49 p.m. CDT July 11, 2016
Rescue workers head back out to search the Tennessee River for 19-year-old Jerry Greer, the son of country singer Craig Morgan on Monday, July 11, 2016. Greer went missing over the weekend following a boating accident. Marty Allison / The Dickson Herald
(Photo: submitted)
The body of 19-year-old Jerry Greer, son of country singer Craig Morgan and wife Karen, has been recovered from Kentucky Lake, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Greer had been missing after a boating accident over the weekend.
In earlier reports, Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said two teens were tubing on the Tennessee River near Kentucky Lake on Sunday when they fell into the water. Greer, who witnesses said was wearing a life jacket, never resurfaced.
A candlelight vigil was originally planned for Monday night, but was canceled out of respect for the families.
Allison Pendergrass, a close friend and classmate of Greer, said he “had an amazing heart, he was caring, and funny.”
“He had his own way of doing things which people didn't understand, but he was a beautiful soul and will forever hold a place in my heart,” Pendergrass said.
Before the Dickson City Council meeting Monday night, Dickson Mayor Don Weiss Jr. asked for a moment of silence for Greer and his family for what he said "looks like the loss of one of our local kids here in town."
Dickson County High Principal Joey Holley said Greer was "loved by many of his classmates."
"His charisma and passion for sports made him one of the fiercest competitors at our school," Holley said Monday night. "He was an outstanding and one-of-a-kind athlete. He will be greatly missed. Our prayers go out to his family."
Counselors will be available Tuesday through Thursday at DCHS to support students through the grieving process, Holley said.
Jerry Greer was a standout Dickson County High School athlete. (Photo: Marty Allison/The Herald)
Davis said crews worked throughout Sunday night and additional resources were requested from other rescue organizations beginning at 6 a.m. Monday.
Rescue teams went back out with the boater who was pulling Greer when he went under. Authorities were hoping he could direct them to the specific spot where he went missing.
According to Davis, there were about 20 to 30 boats out in the area searching. The boats focused their efforts on about 300 or 400 yards from the river on the bank where the accident occurred.
Davis stated he's not certain what could've caused this to occur.
"There's always hazards in the area that could've contributed to this accident," Davis said.
Dickson County Underwater Search and Recovery, the Tennessee City Volunteer Fire Department and the City of Dickson Fire Department personnel also assisted throughout Sunday night.
"The family is grateful for everyone’s support and prayers and requests privacy during this difficult time," said a statement from Morgan's publicist.
THE TENNESSEAN
Craig Morgan focuses on craft, music video shot in Dickson
Country singer Craig Morgan (Photo: File photo)
Greer, a recent graduate of Dickson County High School, was close with his dad, an Army veteran who has had several hits, including “Tough,” “Almost Home,” “That’s What I Love About Sunday” and “International Harvester.”
Morgan is the host of “Craig Morgan All Access Outdoors” on the Outdoor Channel. The show takes Morgan on adventures around the world, and Greer sometimes went with him. The program’s website shows Morgan and Greer posing with a goat they shot in Hawaii.
Greer is one of Morgan’s four children.
A call was first placed to the county dispatch for help at about 4 p.m. Sunday.
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Craig Morgan's son feared dead in Tennessee River tubing accident
Craig Morgan arrives at the CMT Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena (Sanford Myers/Invision/AP)
Monday, July 11, 2016 04:07PM
WAVERLY, Tennessee -- The 19-year-old son of country music singer Craig Morgan is missing after a boating accident on the Tennessee River.
Morgan's publicist Cindy Hunt said in a statement Monday that crews are searching for Jerry Greer in Humphreys County, west of Nashville. The statement said Morgan and his wife, Karen Greer, are grateful for support and prayers but are requesting privacy "during this difficult time."
Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Rod Edwards told local media the search began Sunday afternoon near a marina. Two teenagers were tubing when they had an accident, and one teen didn't surface, he said. Both were wearing life jackets.
The Sheriff's Office requested assistance from rescue organizations across the state. About 50 boats joined the search. Authorities say crews were using an underwater vehicle to scan a stretch of the river where the water is up to 15 feet deep at points.
Morgan, an Army veteran, has had hits like "That's What I Love About Sunday" and "Redneck Yacht Club" and is the host of "Craig Morgan: All Access Outdoors," which is in its seventh season on the Outdoor Channel.
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Lake Barkley & Kentucky Lake Boating
Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley are well known as a water lover's playgrounds. Our Lakes are large enough to accommodate all sizes and types of water and pleasure crafts. Common types of watercrafts that frequent the lake are personal watercrafts (PWC), deck boats, pontoons, runabouts, houseboats, speed and powerboats, ski boats, and fishing boats of all sizes and types. The 184 mile Kentucky Lake is bordered on the east by Land Between the Lakes, one of Kentucky’s most visited attractions. Inside this 170,000-acre play land you can live out any type of outdoor recreational activity imaginable. Hike, bike, hunt, fish, camp and relax inside this non-commercialized haven of nature’s preserved beauty. Kentucky Lake is the largest man-made body of water east of the Mississippi River and one of many of a chain of lakes in Kentucky and Tennessee constructed by the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Army Corps of Engineers.
Covering over 160,300 acres of land, there is room for everyone, Kentucky Lake was created upon the completion of Kentucky Dam, a 206-foot embankment built in 1944. Kentucky Dam's construction was part of a federal plan to control floods in the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and develop their tributaries. Located in the Western Kentucky, beautiful Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake are within a day's drive from most of Middle America, making these beautiful lakes a popular boating and watercraft destination.