Christopher Brent Hixon was born on February 25, 1968, in Easton, Pennsylvania. He attended Easton High School before graduating from Pleasant Valley High School in Brodheadsville, PA. During high school, Chris participated in football, wrestling, and track, earning the Spirit Award for his leadership and dedication to Pleasant Valley sports and his fellow athletes.                                                                                                             

After graduating, Chris enlisted in the United States Navy in July 1986 and transitioned to the United States Naval Reserves in 1992. Throughout his military career, he excelled as a Machinist’s Mate First Class Petty Officer. While serving aboard the USS San Diego, he was deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In the Reserves, his roles included assignments with Naval Security Forces and Mobile Dive and Salvage. He retired on October 1, 2013, after five years of active duty and 22 years in the Reserves—totaling 27 honorable years of service to his country.         

Chris served as a Campus Monitor and Athletic Director at Blanche Ely High School, South Broward High School and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. During his tenure as Athletic Director, he received numerous honors, including the 2007 FIAAA Wayne Taylor Distinguished Service (Meritorious) Award, the 2008 National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association State Award of Merit, and the 2017 Broward County Athletic Association Athletic Director of the Year Award. Posthumously, he was inducted into the Broward County Wrestling Hall of Fame and co-awarded the 2018 ESPY for Best Coach.                                                                                        

Beyond his administrative roles, Chris was a dedicated volunteer coach in softball, cross country, volleyball, and wrestling, often stepping in when teams lacked a coach. Wrestling was his greatest passion, and he volunteered as a wrestling coach throughout his career at Fort Lauderdale High, Blanche Ely High, South Broward High, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.                                                                                           

In 1990, Chris married Debra, and together they had two sons, Thomas and Corey. Chris was deeply committed to his family, country, friends, colleagues, athletes, and students. He never hesitated to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. On February 14, 2018, Chris died as he lived—a hero. He bravely ran into the 1200 Building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to confront the shooter and protect students and staff, tragically losing his life in the process. He embodied the motto: “If not me, then who.”