Update: We are very sorry to report that Keith Harrup passed away on Saturday, September 15, 2018 in a motorcycle accident in Kirvin, Texas.
Services will be held Wednesday, September 19, 2018 beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Teague, Texas.
Bowers Funeral Home is conducting funeral arrangements.
”It was tough, but it was fun!” said Freestone County resident Keith Harrup, winner of the Motorcycle Madness contest hosted by Harley-Davidson of Waco.
Harrup, an Army veteran, withstood seventy-two hours in the “last man standing” style competition held at the dealership Friday, August 31st through Sunday, September 2nd, outlasting around a hundred hopefuls to become one of three finalists in the running to win a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Due to concerns for the health and safety of the contest’s very determined participants, the dealership decided to close the event, opting to have the remaining competitors submit videos explaining why the Harley-Davidson brand means so much to them.
According to the video contest rules, the competitor with the most ‘likes’ would win the motorcycle they were previously competing for.
Harrup, along with friends and family, put out a call for local motorcycle enthusiasts to join him Wednesday, September 5th at the Veterans Remembrance Park in Teague to participate in the making of his video.
“I just want to thank everybody for coming out,” Harrup told supporters on Wednesday. “That was the main thing that got me through – all the support I had.
“We’ve got a great community here – it always has been, and I’m proud to be from this area.”
Their support paid off, and at the close of the contest on Saturday evening, it was announced that Keith had amassed an impressive 9,615 votes, making him the proud new owner of a 2019 Harley-Davidson FLHRXS, also including great Harley Davidson foot pegs!
The remaining finalists, receiving 7,412 and 965 votes respectively, did not leave empty handed after their extraordinary efforts, and were awarded $1,000 each by Harley-Davidson of Waco.
(Photos by Megan Hempel)
