GULF SHORES, AL – Whenever he would pass Nathan Harris in the halls of Gulf Shores High School, principal Ernie Rosado would say “‘hey, coach, how you doing?’ And he would smile with a big grin.”

In the spring of 2015, just before graduation, Harris was the coach of one of the teams in the annual girls’ powder puff football games.

“He dressed up like Ben Blackmon, our coach and ever since that day I saw him coaching, I don’t even know if his team won, I can’t remember that, I’ve called him coach,” Rosado said. “A few of the teachers asked me why I called him the coach and from now on he’s the coach. I saw him in town a couple of months ago, and said ‘hey coach.’”

Harris, Rosado’s adopted coach, was killed April 30 while riding a motorcycle on Fort Morgan Road. Harris was 19. A memorial service and visitation at Gulf Shores First Baptist Church was on Thursday for Harris drew hundreds of people to watch old football clips and talk about what a godly and special young man Harris was.

Rosado said there is a plan afoot for a celebration of Harris’ life at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex where the team plays football. He said it will include some speakers and a “lights-out vigil and walk around the track.” It is tentatively set for May 13.

“It’s been a tough couple of days,” Rosado said. “I’ve known him for four years at the high school. Great kid, especially with the younger kids and all the kids. He had an impact. Very humble, caring and had a lot of friendships with a lot of kids.”

The community outpouring has been overwhelming from hundreds of posts on social media outlets from present and former students to a cross placed at the site of the accident. The Wharf will light its palm trees in school colors and also issued a statement about Harris.

“Join us as we honor this outstanding young man and the legacy he left on our community,” a release from The Wharf stated.

Harris is a legacy, especially to the coach he was emulating at the powder puff football game and whom he played for in his high school career.

“His teammates loved him, his classmates loved him as did people who just may have ran into him,” Blackmon said. “He was always so positive and willing to help. I could go on and on and there’s not one thing that you could ever say bad about the kid. The best way I could put is I’ve been in this business for 16 years coaching and he’s one of the most uncommon teenage boys I’ve ever seen.”

At the heart of Harris’ being, Blackmon said, was living a life through the Bible and setting an example for others.

“He absolutely loved Jesus with all his heart,” Blackmon said. “He was an influence, he made people around him better and he did it through his actions and the way he lived his life. Not through words.”

Blackmon said Harris played his senior season, his third as the team’s starting quarterback, with a torn ACL and wearing a brace. He had surgery after the season and began working on strengthening the injury knee.

“He missed a couple of games, but he fought through it,” Blackmon said. “He overcame a lot of diversity. He was strong, courageous. I could give you adjective after adjective to describe this young man and how special he was.”

On Saturday, Harris was returning from a morning workout to keep strengthening his leg. He had taken the fall off to work on his rehab and enrolled at Troy University to walk on for the football team. He had earned a spot on the traveling squad as the team’s holder on field goals and extra points.

Blackmon said he was already making an impression at Troy.

“Coach (Neal) Brown called me and said ‘you were right about this kid, he is special,’” Blackmon said.

At least one classmate recalled his humorous side, posting on Facebook about the time he was “paid $20 to eat the gum off the bottom of the desk in Mrs. Blake’s class senior year. … Thanks for the memories, Nate.”