A local family is heartbroken over the return of what they thought was their son and brother’s retired football number.
Becky Cramer and Terissa Taylor, of rural Egan, have been outspoken over the past two weeks since seeing a No. 20 jersey back out on the field for the Flandreau Fliers Football team.
It was their understanding that after the school presented them with their son and brother’s jersey in 2019 after his tragic and early death, that Toby Taylor’s football number would never be used again.
The Taylors say they were told the number would be retired, a sentiment echoed by several of Toby’s former teammates.
Flandreau Public School officials say there is no record that is the case nor was that ever a decision made as a school, and have apologized for the misunderstanding. With the conversation escalating on social media, the district has released a statement, along with clarifying that the school doesn’t retire numbers, only jerseys, in unique circumstances like Toby’s to honor a legacy.
Toby, a beloved student, athlete, and community member, died in his sophomore year.

His death hit his classmates, team, and the entire broader community of Moody County, incredibly hard.
“The football players presented his family with his jerseys being used at that time for football,” said Superintendent Rick Weber.
Current Head Coach Josh Edlund was among those to sign Taylor’s jersey, with the words, “We love you, Toby.”
“The Flandreau Public School District has never retired an actual number for any sport. Jerseys are replaced every 6 years and when that time came, all numbers were reordered.”
As to why the number then hadn’t been seen again until this year, Weber said the kids are the ones to pick out their numbers and some get used each year while others don’t. It just depends on which jerseys the kids pick out as to what appears on the sidelines.
The retirement of actual jersey numbers is a rare occasion, even on the national level.
Regardless, the student wearing the number this year was not aware of the history of the number and is now caught in the midst of a tough broader community conversation.
What should happen with the number — that is now the question.
Taylor, Toby’s younger sister, is spearheading efforts and asking anyone that will support the family in its mission to see Toby honored through the retirement of his jersey number, to write to the Flandreau Public School Board and publicly state such feelings.
Weber said any decision to retire a number would need to be addressed by the School Board, and no such precedent has been set. The process would have to start there.
Taylor and a number of other area youth plan to bring the matter to the Flandreau School Board at its next regular meeting. In the meantime, the now homeschooled teen and family friends plan to continue to keep Toby’s memory alive by wearing a shirt each week that states “Retire the Jersey” and “He is Not Forgotten #20”.
Cramer also shared a letter, written by a family friend, encouraging supporters to email the school board with their thoughts. In addition to retiring the number, officially, the letter also includes a request that the district “prioritize more suicide awareness initiatives, mental health awareness training for staff, and resources for students.”