Iris Stagner was a fitness and bicycle advocate, helping to bring exercise equipment to her workplace and make Texas roadways safer for cyclists.
The 54-year-old mother of two especially loved the bicycle trails in Mineral Wells, where she lived."Iris knew that the more bicyclists there are in a community, the safer it is for all of them," said Robin Stallings, executive director of Bike Texas in Austin. "Unfortunately for all of us, Iris Stagner died about 50 years too soon."Stagner, a board member of Bike Texas, was riding her bicycle Monday afternoon when she was hit from behind by a truck and killed on a bridge in Palo Pinto County, a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper has said.A five-mile memorial ride is scheduled for Friday and will be followed by her funeral.Palo Pinto County Judge David Nicklas said Thursday that Stagner had been a fitness advocate for years around the courthouse, where she worked as an administrative assistant to the Palo Pinto County Commissioners Court for 23 years and was set to retire at the end of the year.Palo Pinto County offices will close at noon Friday for Stagner's funeral."She was very into health and wellness programs," Nicklas said. "She managed to secure exercise equipment for county employees."Nicklas said the Mineral Wells mother was scheduled to run in the Boston Marathon in the spring.But without question, her passion was cycling.For years, Stagner devoted her time to riding as well as being a state leader in promoting bicycle safety and education. She was a board member for the last two years of Bike Texas, a statewide bicycle advocacy and education organization.She pushed to have Share the Road signs placed on local roads."The joy, courage and leadership exhibited by Iris was very appealing," Stallings said. "She has been a tireless volunteer and champion for Texas cyclists of all types and ages."The wreck occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m. Monday on U.S. 180 about two miles west of Mineral Wells.Stagner was cycling westbound on the bridge over the Brazos River when a 2005 Chevrolet pickup came up behind her and struck her, according to DPS reports. The truck driver, Theodore Fina of Mineral Wells, was not injured.Stagner was wearing a helmet, DPS reports state.No charges have been filed, but the investigation was continuing, DPS troopers have said.Domingo Ramirez Jr., 817-390-7763Twitter: @mingoramirezjr
Honoring Iris Stagner
A memorial ride to honor Iris Stagner will begin at 1 p.m. today in the parking lot of Palo Pinto General Hospital, 400 SW 25th Avenue, in Mineral Wells, and will proceed west on U.S. 180 and past the site where she was hit and killed, and then to Indian Creek Baptist Church in Mineral Wells, where her funeral will be held at 2 p.m.
An Iris Stagner Memorial Fund at Bike Texas has been established and proceeds will go to Bike Texas Share the Road program for bicyclist and motorist safety education. For information on how to donate, call Bike Texas at 512-476-7433.
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