Texas is mourning after catastrophic floods swept through 15 counties on July 4, leaving at least 82 dead — including 28 children. Among the victims was Richard “Dick” Eastland, 74, a beloved leader at Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ camp along the Guadalupe River.
When flash floods struck, Eastland rushed to save campers. He was later found in an SUV with three girls he tried to evacuate. All four died before reaching the hospital.
Eastland had run the camp with his wife, Tweety, since 1974. To generations of campers, he was more than a director — he was a mentor and father figure. His final act of courage was a reflection of the life he lived.
Governor Greg Abbott has declared a state of disaster and deployed over 1,000 responders. As 27 children remain missing, the state rallies around grieving families and a community forever changed.
