Dec. 19. Jack Dutton, a recent graduate of Hough High School, was among seven people who perished Thursday in a plane crash in Statesville. His father, Dennis Dutton — a career pilot and Lake Norman resident — was also killed.

The other victims were NASCAR team owner Greg Biffle; his wife, Cristina; their 5-year-old son, Ryder; Biffle’s 14-year-old daughter, Emma; and Craig Wadsworth, another member of the NASCAR community.

Jack Dutton graduated from Hough in 2024, where he played on the tennis team and volunteered for a school club that helped provide tech education to residents of Bailey’s Glen. He was studying aviation at Auburn University.

“Jack was a beloved teammate and friend, and this loss is deeply felt across the Hough community and beyond,” read a statement by the Hough athletics department. “We extend our deepest condolences to the Dutton family and all who loved them.”