Brett Hemphill, 56, Howell High School Class of 1986, died Oct. 5, 2023, in Phantom Springs, Texas – the deepest natural cave in the United States – and he’s being remembered for his adventurous spirit and his dedication and contributions to cave exploration and underwater research. According to a report, Hemphill got separated from his surverying team mate, who was unable to locate him and was forced to ascend alone. Phantom Springs was the site of Hemphill’s record-breaking dive a decade earlier. Details about the incident are scarce, but news reports describe Phantom Springs as an extremely challenging system that … Continue reading Howell HS grad, acclaimed diver, dies in deepest natural cave in U.S.