Judd Hall and I met in high school. We were both the new kids and we bonded over our status. We had great times enjoying our teenage years, we surfed, drove fast, and even tried to start a rock band together. One summer night he bet me $100 dollars that he would not live to the age of 50. I accepted the bet thinking it was ridiculous and that he was just longing for endless youth like many people do. When he graduated high school he joined the military and served his time deep underwater in a submarine. Upon completing his service he settled in Rhode Island. We managed to stay in touch, I would visit him or he would come down to spend time with his friends and family in Texas. In the summer of 2018 he was here for a canoeing trip, he rode his motorcycle across the country to be with his friends. He admitted to me during this trip that he was going through a divorce and was having financial difficulties. I offered him a place to stay at my place so that he could catch up with his finances and get away. He rode back to Rhode Island after we planned a possible move to Texas and our next big adventure. Two weeks after the trip he took his own life with a bullet to his brain. All those who knew him died a little with him that day and we are still dealing with the aftermath of his final action.
After the schock of his death it struck me that I had won the stupid bet we made in high school. Since I never thought I would win that bet I realized I could not give Judd the $100 I owed him. So I decided to give $100 in his memory to any organizations or event that would allow me to talk about Judd and his suicide. The $100 is a symbol of his life and his memory and it has allowed me an opportunity to talk about suicide prevention, specially in active and ex-milatry persons. Suicide is twice as likely in people who served in the military and its preventable with the right treatment. So if Judd's $100 can allow for the prevention of other suicides it will serve as a great legacy to Judd and his life.
- Cesar De Paz