Cooley visits ailing fan, has career game

Graham Cullen/Frederick News Post

Chris Cooley turned in his best game of the young season in Philadelphia on Sunday, catching eight passes for a career-high 109 yards. He also caught the Redskins’ go-ahead score on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Antwaan Randle El.

The ball he snatched out of the air to set Redskins nation into a frenzy didn’t get shuffled in with the rest, Cooley had promised the keepsake to someone special.

Ron Frazier is a 52-year-old father, husband and lifelong Redskins fan. He and his wife Kathy have had season tickets since 1991 and have been watching games since the team played at Griffith Stadium.

But Ron hasn’t made it to a game this fall. In fact, he hasn’t been able to travel anywhere recently. The Jefferson, Md. resident was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer two years ago and has struggled with the disease ever since.
After receiving a heartfelt email from a family friend about Ron’s rapidly deteriorated condition, the Redskins and Cooley reacted.

Last Friday after practicing in preparation for yesterday’s tilt against the Eagles, Cooley made the hour drive to Jefferson to meet with Ron and his family.

Cooley visited for almost an hour, answering questions about the team and engaging Ron in some chitchat.

"What were the games like at RFK stadium?" Cooley asked Ron. "From what I've heard, I wish I was a part of the Redskins back then."

"Oh, man, you could feel the stands rocking at the place," he responded, according to the Frederick News Post.

Ron and Chris talked about favorite fishing spots and Cooley’s mother’s fight with breast cancer. The smile never left Frazier’s face and the pro bowl tight end left plenty of other mementos behind.

He posed for pictures with the family members gathered and autographed every piece of Redskins regalia he could get his hands on.

Ron and his wife grew up in Prince Georges County as Redskins fans, watching Sonny Jurgensen, Billy Kilmer and Charlie Taylor. He graduated from Parkdale High School in Greenbelt in 1974 and she graduated a year later from nearby DuVal High School. They start dating in 1984 -- in the middle of the Joe Gibbs-era heyday -- watching Redskins games together. They married soon after and in 1991 bought season tickets. They've been attending games with a group of friends ever since, tailgating together for the past 17 seasons.

"Section 141, row 12," Kathy said. "Ron and I sit in seat 9 and 10. The Redskins side, 35-yard line."

There will always be a seat saved for Ron Frazier at FedEx Field even if he isn’t around to sit in it, and there will always be the memories of a day when a NFL star did more than just score touchdowns.

"It was more fun than I ever thought it would be; he stayed a long time with all these people that were here," Ron said. "It was really good. It was great -- awesome."