A Williamson County man has died after attempting an agility test for the Round Rock Police Department.
Michael Anthony “Tony” Wampler, 47, lived in Hutto. He was also pastor of the 40-member Faith Community Church in Jonah.
Wampler's congregation said he was ready to answer his final call.
"I know he's home with the Lord because he preached on it for three or four months in a row, was wanting to make sure that anyone wasn't right with the Lord, they need to get that way," church leader Ray Richey said.
"The program today. He wrote the program out. And I can't remember exactly how it was written, but it said something about 'are you ready?' And today could be the day," church member Eunice Gattis said.
Friends say Wampler was a preacher’s son, an ex-bull rider who grew up in Odessa.
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Pastor dies
Friends and congregation members say Tony Wampler was dedicated to becoming a public servant.
 
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"He was an orphan. Left on the doorstep of a preacher, and the preacher raised him as their own son. And, he claimed him to be his Dad," Richey said.
Investigators believe Wampler collapsed when he was running an obstacle course as part of the department's applicant testing process.
"I really wanted to talk him out of it. I'm sitting there, going you know, well the Lord called you to preach, and we can pay you some more money. But, Tony, that was his love. He wanted to be a public servant," Richey said.
Richey said Wampler wanted the most out of life and to reach out to children so they could learn from his mistakes.
"He was out there for the kids. He wanted to make sure his boys and all their friends knew about Jesus. That was Tony," he said.
Wampler was taken to the hospital where he later died. Detectives are still looking into the cause of death.
The agility course is required of all applicants, and the Round Rock Police Department encourages all applicants to have a physical exam before applying to the department.
