By
Rebecca Missel
Arizona Daily Wildcat
About 140 people gather to share stories about UA freshman who died last Monday
Friends of James Haley, a UA student who died last Monday in a motorcycle accident, gathered last night to remember his life.
Approximately 140 people came to the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house, 1745 E. Second St., to honor the aerospace engineering freshman. Haley was killed after reportedly running stop sign at East First Street and North Cherry Avenue and colliding with a tow truck.
Jared Clevenger, 20, who had known Haley for 13 years, recalled his early daredevil adventures.
"We had just gotten new mountain bikes and were out in his backyard riding them," he said. "James made a sharp turn and fell, but got up smiling."
While Clevenger was saddened by the death, he said he would remember Haley's joy for life.
"I'm envious of his intense happiness," he said. "It's a bummer that someone else is sharing that now."
Haley's roommate, Tim Otten, a University of Arizona business management sophomore, delivered the eulogy to fraternity brothers, friends and members of Haley's naval battalion.
"Every day was all-out for him," Otten said. "We all regret that we didn't get a chance to know him longer."
Other fraternity brothers said Haley was fun to be around and was an asset to the house.
"We had good times together," said Greg Herrling, a biology sophomore and Phi Delta Theta social chair. "I will remember him in my prayers."
The UA Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps battalion and several Marine Corps officers also attended.
Haley always had great enthusiasm for the Navy, said Marine Corps Sgt. Robert Price.
"He was a good-hearted guy who was always concerned about his friends," said Price, who was also Haley's platoon commander.
After growing up in Prescott and graduating from Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, Haley came to UA last January.
