Remembering Rusty Frever

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Rusty in high school.

When I was the sports editor of the Livingston County Press in the mid-1980s, I got to cover some excellent football teams at Howell High School. The Highlanders went 8-1 in both 1984 and 1985, winning the Kensington Valley Conference championship both years. I haven’t seen them all, but I’m willing to wager that those were some of the best high school football teams Livingston County has ever had.

One of the best players on Howell’s team back then was a guy named Rusty Frever. He wore No. 35, and he was a big, strong kid who played both running back and linebacker. It’s been nearly 30 years, but I can still remember the way he used to almost glide through the line when he ran the ball. He made everything seem effortless, and he was one of the best players I’ve ever seen in our county.

Rusty went on to play at Eastern Michigan (along with another Howell player, Joe Moorman), and I think the last time I ever saw him was when I went to Ypsilanti to do a story on both of them, probably in 1988 or so.

I hadn’t thought much about Rusty Frever since then. He graduated from EMU and eventually got married and had a baby girl. He ended up in Arkansas. And somewhere along the line, he dropped the “Rusty” and became “Russ.” But to everybody he knew from high school, he was still Rusty.

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Rusty and his daughter.

I know all this, because a couple weeks ago, I saw on Facebook that he had gotten sick. Very sick. Rusty had cancer, and it had spread to his heart. So a friend of his started a Facebook page, to spread the word and to encourage people to send a “thinking of you” note to him.

The outpouring of support and love was unbelievable. Dozens of people started posting messages for Rusty, and I would say that roughly 95 percent of them were from people he went to high school with. And as I read through all the messages, I got to know the real Rusty Frever.

Back in the 1980s, I saw Rusty play football and basketball a lot, and I interviewed him quite a few times, but I wouldn’t say that I really knew him. But after reading all those messages on Facebook, I can say that now, I do know him.

If you want to know who someone REALLY is, talk to the people he went to high school with. A person’s character is usually revealed back then, and in Rusty Frever’s case, it revealed a young man who was obviously raised right.

Back in 1985, Rusty Frever was the prototypical Big Man On Campus. He was a star athlete with movie-star good looks and a smile straight out of Hollywood. In the movies, this is the kind of person who usually ends up being a jerk. Rusty Frever – as it turns out – was anything but a jerk.

From the postings on Facebook, I learned that Rusty made time for everybody, smiled at everybody, was nice to everybody, and never thought he was better than anybody. Whether you were a senior who was a teammate on the football team, or a freshman trumpet player in the band, Rusty Frever was your friend. In the end, the best we can hope for as parents is that we raise our kids to be nice people, and Rusty’s parents obviously raised him right.

Sadly, though, this story doesn’t have a happy ending. Rusty passed away on Sunday morning. He leaves behind a wife and daughter, and more friends than he probably knew he had. Whether you knew Rusty or not, I’m sure his family could use your prayers right now.

Personally, I’ve learned a lot in the last couple weeks. I’ve learned that Rusty Frever – a kid I knew 30 years ago as a great football player – was an even better man. And I’ve learned that when a Highlander goes down, there will be hundreds of friends there to pick him up.

I’ve also thought about what this all says about Howell as a community. You might have seen a couple weeks ago that Howell’s reputation took a hit when some kids at the high school tweeted out some stupid racist stuff after a basketball game. Only a handful of kids were involved, but it became big news, and it gave everyone around the state a chance to say, “Well, that’s Howell for you.”

Well, no. That’s not Howell for you. You don’t judge Howell based on that. If you’re going to judge Howell, judge it on the way it responded when Rusty Frever got sick. Judge Howell on the way it produced a great kid like Rusty, and judge it on the way his classmates rallied behind him 30 years later.

That’s the real Howell. Trust me.

Rest in peace, Rusty.

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17 Comments

  1. Great article to the legacy of an Awesome person Russ Frever was a very kind guy always with a warm smile and a kind word to make you feel that you are worth something he was my district manager for Wal-Mart years ago and will always be remembered My deepest sympathy and prayers to his family and Many friends.

  2. Buddy,so beautiful THANK YOU
    He is one of the Greatest. .i love and will miss him always

  3. Great arcticle. Our family’s thoughts and prayers are with Tifanie, Holand, and the rest of his family. Thanks to Carie, too, for her thoughtfulness.

  4. A great remembrance here, Buddy. I was a Highlander footballer a few years behind Rusty. The varsity teams he played for set an example for the rest of us to follow, not just as athletes, but as people on and off of the field. It’s a rare and noble thing when young men bring excellence out of their confused teenage lives. When they bring it out in others we call them leaders. On the occasion of this loss we see it’s an excellence that has endured. Thanks for pointing the way, Rusty. Go Highlanders!

  5. Tiffinay I never had the chance to meet you. I know it is going to be hard for you and your daughter. I am a childhood friend of Rusty, I have known him since we were 7 years old. We played and grew up together with both football and basketball. We had more laughs and inside jokes than I could tell you. For your daughter let her know her dad was a great man and better friend. I was one of the meat heads that blocked for him. Nothing better than watching him run past me on the way in to the end zone. It’s been almost 30 years (geez)! When I leave this world I will meet him in the huddle. Like it was yesterday. My wife, boys, and I are praying for you and your daughter.

  6. Great article, and a damn shame cancer takes another great person.
    Your gone Rusty but not forgotten!

  7. I am so glad I had the opportunity to know Russ thru this well written article and comments from friends. I know his lovely wife Tifanie. Russ was the Love of her Life. They were building their dream house when he got sick. All that mattered to Tiff was Russ. They and their daughter lived life to the fullest in a few months. Please pray for all his family during this very difficult time. We love them all.

  8. dont let life pass you by! remember all the good and life is not a race and there isnt a finish line.love to all the family . this was a wonderful story and obviously rusty was loved by all! we will all meet again someday.

  9. Buddy a well written article! I think we should focus on the positives of Howell. Rusty was not only the athletic standout from Howell but a man of character as evident from the many Facebook posts. Thank you to Russ’s parents! We should ALL strive to raise the type of child you have.! God had called you home too soon for us but until we meet again Russ thank you for all that you have touched!

  10. I learned to respect Rusty when he was 12 or 13 years old playing for the Howell Lions in Howell JR Football league. We had a big rivalry back in those days with the Lions and the Eagles. I was the coach of the Eagles when Rusty was a star player for the Lions. He was a Great kid who as I understand grew up to be a Great Man. I never had the opportunity to coach Rusty but what a Hell of a player he was. It is so sad to lose these Great young people so soon. My thought and prayers are with his family. #35 will live forever in Howell Football. Great Story Buddy…

    Jeff Minock

  11. An amazing summary of a friend that touched my soul. I got to know Russ much after his highschool days, he made quite the impact on me. I will take his kind confidant stature wherever life takes me. Think you Russ, miss you. Love you brother….Dave

  12. Thanks for sharing and also for giving his daughter something to remind her what a great man her daddy was!!

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