South Texas student crowned homecoming king 4 days after dying of leukemia

Nick Peters died Oct. 3, 2016. His classmates at Harlingen High School posthumously crowned him Homecoming King Oct. 5, 2016. Nick Peters died Oct. 3, 2016. His classmates at Harlingen High School posthumously crowned him Homecoming King Oct. 5, 2016. Photo: Courtesy/Instagram Photo: Courtesy/Instagram Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close South Texas student crowned homecoming king 4 days after dying of leukemia 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

Four days after succumbing to a third bout of leukemia, a 17-year-old boy was crowned Harlingen High School's Homecoming King.

Nick Peters battled leukemia for seven years— he was first diagnosed in October 2009, and relapsed twice over the years, ABC News reported. He died Oct. 3 at the Texas Children's Hospital in Houston from a complications due to a transplant, Judi Peters, Nick's mother, told the news station.

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After he died, Peters' classmates found the perfect way to honor the student, but there was one obstacle in their way — Peters wasn't a student organization representative, a position required to be nominated to the homecoming court, the Valley Morning Star reported.

So, Norman Torres, the high school's senior class president, gave up his spot as a representative for the class so Peters could have it making him eligible for the crown, the newspaper reported.

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"Norman called me and said, 'Hey, we're going to get Nick elected king and we are telling everybody,'" Judi Peters told ABC News.

At the game on Oct. 7, Torres accepted the crown at the homecoming game on behalf of Peters and gave it to Noah, Peters' 12-year-old brother.

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"I think he would've been embarrassed to be king," Judi Peters told ABC News. "He didn't like lots of attention on himself. Of course, he would've thought the (gesture) was really cool. He'd be completely amazed at how many people have come together honoring him in so many different ways."

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5