BELL COUNTY, Texas — It's been nearly two years since the death of DPS Trooper Thomas Nipper rocked Central Texas and the state as a whole. Nipper was hit by a pickup truck and killed during a traffic stop in Nov. 2017.
"I miss him. I usually try to avoid that stretch of I-35 where it happened. He lost his life and we lost our loved one, that's irreplaceable," Nipper's daughter Lori Nipper said.
A memorial stands outside of Nipper's former workplace just down the road from where the accident happened.
Rep. Hugh Shine passed HB 338, to name that part of the highway after the trooper to commemorate him.
The Nipper family is planning a set of fundraisers on Nov. 2 and Nov. 4 at eight restaurants to honor Nipper. The events will raise funds for his highway memorial signs and to thank all area law enforcement for putting their lives on the line to help others every day.
"A tragedy like this makes you realize how much first responders really do put on the line and how much them and their families sacrifice. Those officers, firefighters, EMS and tow truck drivers all want to go home to their families. They don't want their family to have to go through what we've gone through or what the Falls County Deputy's family is now going through," Lori Nipper said.
While Nipper is gone his family said they will have something permanent to remember him by in their hearts and that the community will have something permanent to remember him by on the roads for many years to come.
"I think it will make it a little easier to drive past that part of the highway because it won't signify the spot where he lost his life. Now it will signify his legacy and his memory," Lori Nipper said.
Nipper spent 43 years in law enforcement.
The restaurants participating in the fundraiser on Nov. 2 are:
- Fuzzy's Taco Shop (Temple, Tx) 1pm-2pm
- Texas Roadhouse (Temple, Tx) 11am- 11pm *ALL DAY*
- Jersey Mikes (Temple, Tx) 5pm-9pm
- Jersey Mikes (Belton, Tx) 4pm- 9pm
- Chili's (Temple, Tx)
- J Neely's (Belton, Tx) 11am-10pm *ALL DAY*
- Chick Fil A (31st St Temple, Tx) donation box only for entire month of November
- Bush's Chicken (Adams Temple, Tx) accepting written checks only
The restaurants participating in the fundraiser on November 4th are:
- Wings, Pizza and things (Temple, Tx) 4pm- 11pm *ALL DAY*
The cost of the highway memorial signs is $25,000. The family said they have raised $1,000 so far. If you'd like to help the family with donations click here. If you'd like to purchase trooper T-shirts from the family click here.
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