Kyle Nixon's smile and laugh were infectious.
"He could get you to laugh at things you would never think of," said Alex McSwain, Nixon's friend and fraternity brother. "That really was what impressed people most about him. Of all the things we shared together, laughter was by far the thing that I will most remember."
Nixon, senior in political science and member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, died early in the morning Sept. 29 after collapsing at an off-campus apartment.
Nixon, 22, wanted to work in politics for either the Republican or Libertarian Party, said Barbara Nixon, Kyle's mother and Auburn alumna.
"We were constantly talking about the news and especially politics," Barbara said. "Not only just with his dad and me, but he has two uncles who are in the Army. One just retired as a general, and the other is a lieutenant colonel right now. So politics and military strategy were always a topic of dinnertime conversation at our house."
This summer Kyle went to New Orleans on a bus trip for the Jon Huntsman presidential campaign.
"He was the one who introduced me to Ron Paul," McSwain said. "He was very much a live-and-let-live type of person, and I think that influenced his political beliefs."
The oldest of four children, Kyle was born in Fort Benning, Ga., on June 11, 1989.
As part of a military family he moved many times, but lived in De Pere, Wis., from kindergarten through his junior year of high school.
His family now lives in Lakeland, Fla.
McSwain said Kyle had a flair for fixing things, whether it was a problem with his car or his computer.
At home, he even liked to take things apart and put them back together.
"When I walked into his room Thursday night and was looking around," Barbara said, "I saw a dismantled Xbox over in the corner, and I said, 'Yep, that's Kyle.'"
During high school, Kyle wanted a new computer--not just any computer, but one that he would build himself.
Kyle made a contract with his parents: they would allow him to build the computer, and in exchange he would provide free baby-sitting services for life.
"That's how we worked it all the way through high school," Barbara said. "I never had to get a baby sitter again after that. We took full advantage of that."
Kyle had a constant companion in his dog, an American Dingo named Sam. Sam could even recognize the sound of Kyle's Saab from a distance, Barbara said.
"It spoke to his character that whenever Sam wandered away, he'd just wander on back to Kyle's room," McSwain said. "Kyle never worried and just knew and had faith in Sam to wander on back."
Kyle held a part-time job at Brick Oven Pizza Company on North Gay Street.
"He was one of those guys that we could always count on him being here, showing up for his shift, doing the work we asked him to," said Jeff Finkhousen, Brick Oven manager.
The brothers of TKE plan to pool their money to build a memorial for Kyle outside the fraternity house, said Carlos Perry, TKE president.
Kyle will also receive a posthumous degree from the political science department, said Gerry Gryski, professor and department chair.
"To be so committed to a son or a daughter, to support them and see their way through a number of years of college and all of the growing up and all the difficulties that are involved with maturing and growing up--the degree is the end point in that," Gryski said.
"In many respects, this is the closing of a very important chapter in the book on Kyle. I know his folks will be very proud of the experience."
Kyle had a tattoo on his shoulder of the Presbyterian Church's cross logo, which McSwain said was an important expression of Kyle's faith.
"We knew that he would be going to heaven someday," Barbara said, "and that makes it a whole lot easier for all of us to go through this right now."
She said Kyle's brother James plans to get the same tattoo in Kyle's memory.
Kyle is survived by his parents, Barbara and Kevin Nixon, and his siblings: James, 21; Sam, 13; and Kate, 12.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church of Auburn, with a reception at the TKE house afterward.
Autopsy reports have not been released, but foul play is not suspected, according to the Auburn Police Division.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
