9162062603.jpg &&& FORT WORTH — Robert "Lance" Strong never allowed his disability to stop him from enjoying life or bringing inspiration to his family and friends.Mr. Strong, 60, died Saturday from complications of surgery, said his brother, Garland Strong."The average lifespan of a quadriplegic is 12 years, and he made it for 44 years," Garland Strong said. "He really persevered with his life."Mr. Strong was born Sept. 23, 1947, in Nacogdoches and came to Fort Worth with his family in 1956. He played football and baseball at Arlington Heights High School. At 16 he was paralyzed when he dived off a stone wall at a high school party at Eagle Mountain Lake.Mr. Strong’s mother, Mary Jo, devoted her life to caring for her son. She also worked at Lockheed to support her family after her husband died, Garland Strong said.For two years after being injured, Mr. Strong was in hospitals throughout Texas for rehabilitation therapy.Garland Strong said his brother never gave up on his dream of graduating from Arlington Heights and going to college."I remember him going across the stage in his wheelchair and getting a standing ovation," Garland Strong said.After finishing high school in 1968, Mr. Strong earned an associate degree in business from Tarrant County College. He was president of a campus group for disabled students.Garland Strong said he rented a van to take his brother to classes.After college, Garland Strong said, Mr. Strong had several jobs involving telephone work from home.Mr. Strong was well known for his outgoing personality and for his positive attitude.He loved telling jokes, "throwing parties and having friends come over," his brother said. One of his favorite places was the Lone Star Drive-in.As his friends got married and started having families, it was harder for them to visit, and Garland Strong said he admired his brother’s strength in dealing with loneliness and isolation."He was a tough guy who could almost overcome anything," Garland Strong said of his brother. "I think what kept him going was the care he got from our mother and his faith in God." Mr. Strong spent many hours watching the Rev. Joel Osteen and news programs about politics and world events. His favorite band was Asleep at the Wheel.Garland Strong recalled a poignant conversation with his brother."He told me he was proud of me because I have a successful business and a family, but there’s no one who overcame what he did." Services Visitation: 5:30 p.m. today at Thompson’s Harveson Cole Funeral Home followed by a vigil service at 6:30 p.m.