Hector Rios – a decorated cross country and track athlete at Winfield’s Southwestern College in the late 80s – has been identified as a missing kayaker whose body was recovered this week from the Mulberry River in Arkansas.
Rios, 57, went missing on Saturday in the northern portion of that state, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. His body was recovered Thursday afternoon following an extensive search of the area and river.
An autopsy is scheduled for Rios, which is standard for boating fatalities.
Rios was an optometrist in Wichita, with a location in Colwich, for many years and had reportedly traveled to Arkansas for a group outing with friends. He still had friends from his Moundbuilder days.
“The Mulberry River is somewhat swollen by recent rains. The water level was reported at 4 feet Saturday when Rios was reported missing, according to Turner Bend Outfitter in Cass, upriver from where Rios was found,” the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette reports.
Rios was a two-time NAIA All-American with the Cross Country and Track Team at Southwestern. He graduated in 1990.
He’s married and has children.
