Editor’s note: Clovis News Journal staff is also working to profile Farwell’s Joe Haseloff, the other victim of the weekend tragedy. We hope to publish that report in Wednesday’s paper.



Tyler Fontenot loved playing golf and he loved putting smiles on faces, using a trademark exaggerated hand wave and an upbeat personality.

About 100 classmates, teachers and community members gathered early Monday evening at Clovis High School to reflect on the loss of Fontenot, 17, whose body was recovered Monday from a Texas lake.

The body of his uncle, Joe Haseloff, 49, a Farwell farmer, was also recovered. The two were boating at Lake Brownwood in central Texas, family members said.

Kyler Brewer, a junior and golf teammate at Clovis High, said Fontenot was the first person he met when he moved to Clovis six years ago.
He said the pair’s competitiveness on the golf course drove each other to do better.

“All he ever tried to do was out drive me, that was his goal, to out drive me,” he said. “The only thing he ever wanted to do is win the state championship.”

Jonathan Langan, a Clovis High junior, said Fontenot was known for his “goofy-looking” wave he used to greet people. He said he and Fontenot would hang out on the weekends and play wiffleball with other friends.

He said Fontenot also liked fishing and the two would sometimes fish in the ponds at Chaparral Country Club.

Fontenot had played on the varsity golf team since eighth grade.

Clovis High School golf coach Cal Fullerton said Fontenot was one of his top golfers. He said Fontenot was the district champion two years in a row and twice placed in the top six at the state tournament.

Fullerton said Fontenot was never in a bad mood and was a joy to be around.

“The biggest thing about Tyler is his smile,” Fullerton said. “Every time you see Tyler, he was smiling.”

Lake Brownwood is located about 75 miles southeast of Abilene, Texas.