A GoFundMe campaign aims to aid the family of Ben Arnet, the late sports director at KOMU 8 TV and a longtime presence on the mid-Missouri sports scene.
Arnet, who died Aug. 28 at age 43 “after an unexpected suspected cardiac event,” was a Columbia native who graduated from Hickman High School and the University of Missouri, as the GoFundMe page notes.
Advertisement
“Ben has been a very involved and important part of our Mid-Missouri community for decades. He delivered exceptional coverage of Friday Night Fever, Hoops Extra, Mizzou football and more. His love of sports was matched only by his love for his family,” the page reads in part.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the campaign had raised more than $34,000 of its $45,000 goal with nearly 425 donations.
This photo of Ben Arnet and his family is part of a GoFundMe campaign to support Arnet’s family after his death last month.
“As a family friend to Ben and Nicole, I felt the call to start a GoFundMe to support this sweet family during this unimaginable time,” organizer Kari Lampe wrote.
Arnet’s career started early and in earnest, former Tribune and St. Louis Post-Dispatch sportswriter Dave Matter noted in a feature obituary written for MU.
Advertisement
“Long before he became a student then a teacher at Mizzou’s J-School, Ben launched his own local sports show — as a high schooler himself! — and later worked for Chris (Gervino) at the ABC affiliate, then learned the craft as a college student at KOMU,” Matter wrote.
Arnet worked in sports news in Arizona, Kansas and New York before coming back to Columbia in 2011, Matter reported. He described Arnet as an innovator, interviewer and someone for whom craft and wells of caring came together.
More: ‘There ain’t no attaboy’: How Missouri football has prepared for Border War, Kansas game
“Ben Arnet was a hustler — and I mean that as the strongest compliment. As a teenager he hustled to get the best stories. No assignment was too big or too small. As a storyteller, Ben was ahead of his time — and now gone way too soon,” Matter concluded.
Advertisement
Those interested in donating to Arnet’s family can access the GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/ben-arnet.
Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com. He’s on Twitter/X @aarikdanielsen.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: GoFundMe launched to help KOMU sports director Ben Arnet’s family
