Vigil held at Fresno State for student killed in dirt bike accident on campus farm

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- An emotional show of support for a Fresno State senior Joel Talbot, 25, who died in a dirt bike accident earlier this week. Thursday night his friends organized a vigil on campus to honor his memory.

Joel's family wasn't able to make it but another family-- his Fresno State one-- shared their memories of him and what an inspiring young man he was.

You could tell by the crowd, and stories, how much Talbot meant to his friends at Fresno State.

"He was the type of person who always wanted to make people smile. He loved everyone he met, and could cheer anyone up even if he didn't know him," said Kaitlyn Milam, friend.

Many of those who didn't know him came to the vigil for him Thursday night to light a candle, write a message, and send a prayer to a man so many deeply loved and admired.

One speaker said, "They don't make them like Joel anymore. Everybody in the house looked up to him, whether you be an old guy or a new member."

Joel died is a motorcycle collision on the university farm Wednesday. Police said he hit a metal stand pipe on the side of the road. Joggers found him in the morning. The loss still hard to make sense of.

"We shall see him again someday in the big sky above, until then-- his memory shall live on as if he had never gone," said Milam.

Joel was a senior majoring in crop science production management. Friends said he was passionate about the outdoors and loved working on the land.

"One thing I wanna say is, he went out with his boots on and I can't imagine him going any other way. That was just his style," said one friend.

Grief continues to grip his friends, family, even strangers. Coming out in memory of someone they didn't have to know-- to consider a brother.

The university said they will continue to have grief counselors available.

His friends say they are asking for prayers and pictures of Joel that they can send to his family.