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USF Homecoming Royalty Dies Shortly After Game

Family photo

Alejandro Solis, seen with fiance Priscella Ybarra at Saturday's game, was pursuing a double major in finance and management along with a minor in psychology.

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI

esilvestrini@tampatrib.com

Published: October 22, 2008

Updated: 10/22/2008 05:40 pm

Hours after he was recognized on the field at Saturday's Bulls game as Homecoming Lord, Alejandro "Alex" Solis was in an accident that ended his life.

The 23-year-old Bartow man was set to graduate in December from University of South Florida Polytechnic and was to be notified this week of his selection as Outstanding Senior for his school's winter commencement, according to the university Web site, which says the award recognized Solis' academic excellence and involvement in campus and community affairs.

Solis, a father of two young boys, died Monday of injuries sustained in an accident early Sunday morning in Bowling Green, Hardee County. His fiancé, Priscella Ybarra, didn't want to discuss the details, saying only that she was driving and he hit his head. She said the accident happened because they were celebrating his homecoming lord recognition.

"We were having a good time," she said. "It was an accident."

Bowling Green Police Chief John Scheel said Solis was seated in the rear of the vehicle on Highway 17, a four-lane highway, when he either fell or jumped out around 3 a.m. Sunday. Scheel said he couldn't give further details because the accident is still under investigation.

Ybarra said Solis was excited about his appearance during the football game, and texted her the whole time, telling her and her friends to stand up so he could see them from the field. "I love you so much," she said he sent in a text. "I'm glad you're here."

After the game, they went with friends to the Wing House, where Solis competed in a game to get a high score punching a punching bag. He nearly beat the top score on the game, but they had to leave because it was getting late, Ybarra said.

After that, they went to a club with friends and celebrated the night away.

"He was the best," Ybarra said about Solis, whom she had dated for nine years. "He did everything to the best he possibly could."

He was the first person in his family to earn a college degree, she said.

Solis graduated from Hardee High School in Wauchula and earned an associate of arts in general business from South Florida Community College, according to the Web site at USF Polytechnic, where Solis was pursuing a double major in finance and management along with a minor in psychology. He was also active in Delta Sigma Pi and the Student Government Association.

She said he had 11 or 12 scholarships, and he helped start and run her business, a beauty salon called Priscella's Fabulous Touch.

"I don't know what he didn't do," she said. "He did everything … He'd wake up at nighttime and change the kids' diapers and wash their bottles … The only thing he didn't do was mop."

Now she says she's lost and doesn't know how she's going to raise their two sons, ages 4 years and 11 months, alone.

They were engaged just two months, she said. He was afraid getting married before would limit his ability to receive scholarships, she said. They were going to get married after he graduated.

Ybarra said Solis wasn't sure what he was going to do after he graduated. "That's why he had his degrees in all different areas," she said.

He told her, "They can't tell me I can't work for them … I have a mixture of everything … I'm going to fit in somewhere. Somebody's going to take me."

A wake will be held at Robarts Family Funeral Home, 529 W Main St., in Wauchula from 6 to 8 p.m. The funeral will be at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Robarts, with a graveside service to follow. For information, call the funeral home at (863) 773-9773.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837.

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