elementary age students stand in front of a Christmas tree holding socks

In a heartening turn of events, Christmas came early for some Tyler ISD students. The district received a generous donation of more than 2,000 pairs of Bombas socks. What makes this donation particularly special is that it serves as a touching tribute to the late Trent Woodward, whose memory will live on through the warmth and comfort these socks bring to students.

The boxes were bursting with hundreds of pairs of socks, all delivered to some Tyler ISD campuses in need of warm, cozy pairs for student's feet during Christmas Break and beyond.

The first stop…Jones Elementary School. The children were eager to gather in the lobby by the tree with their Principal, Dr. Crain. They were delighted that a new gift was given to each of them and more to their classmates.

On a campus nearby, RISE Academy high schoolers thought the Bombas sock surprise was a cool part of their day, as did Principal Dexter Floyd.

Three Lakes Middle School was in the middle of a pep rally when their Bombas socks were tossed into the stands as students cheered. The gators and the elves were elated for the crowd! Dr. Lani Norman stopped by to help pass them out after the assembly with Principal Rachel Sherman.

Trent donated the socks to Tyler ISD and then unexpectedly passed away on November 5, 2023. While he may not have been able to witness the joyous reactions of the recipients, his legacy lives on through the smiles and warmth these socks bring.

Woodward was known for living by three quotes, "What you do matters," "Could we do more?" and "How do you want to be remembered?" It is evident that Trent's actions will continue to matter. The gift of socks is not merely a physical offering but a representation of his philosophy – a question to all of us, urging us to consider doing more and leaving a lasting, positive imprint on those around us.