It is becoming clear to me that the passing of local actor Theron Read is no small thing. From stragglers and friends grieving on the net to the power-hitting culture editor of St. Louis Magazine, who described him as a “mighty soul,” people are coming out of the woodwork to pay their respects to someone who may have boiled down to an understated downtown institution.
I did not know Theron Read, but the outpouring of emotion and chatter about the poetic passing of this local sub-celebrity on a slow-moving commuter train has “story” written all over it.
Derek Allred
Salt Lake City
Editor’s note: Theron starred in the ’80s film Three O’Clock High, filmed at Ogden High School, as the beret-wearing sidekick Mark Bojeekus, as well Plan 10 From Outer Space and other cult films. He was found dead on a University TRAX train on July 20. Our sympathies go out to his family and friends.