This obituary and eulogy were provided by Larry Sage.
Russell (Rusty) Herring
Westbury High School Class of 1964
I'm certain that there are others who knew Rusty better, at least recently, than I. I hope they will add to that which is written here. For my part, I will do my best. Rusty Herring was my friend. Today, May 26, 2010 he went to his final reward after a long battle with cancer. Regrettably, we had lost touch since the 25th WHS reunion in 1989. I do want to speak to his children to learn about the last third of his life of which I know very little. I will add to this writing at that time.
Although I knew Rusty in high school, we really became good friends when we became roommates our freshman year at Stephen F. Austin. He pledged the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity in the spring semester. At that time I had a new job, hiding Rusty from Phi Delt members who were looking for him for any number of reasons. He spent a lot of time locked in his closet while members waited for him to "return" from wherever I told them he was.
He was a loyal friend one could always count on. When I was married in 1968, he was one of my groomsmen. I remember his calming influence during that, and other stressful times. Rusty was laid back and very easy going.
By the time of our 10th class of '64 reunion I had been in Denver for 4 years. I talked to him about coming to Houston for the event and he helped arrange a pre-reunion gathering of a number of friends and their spouses so that the spouses would have a chance to get acquainted with a few people before being thrust into the sea of strangers and then left to fend for themselves while we Rebels were off reacquainting ourselves with our friends.
Rusty and I communicated occasionally between the 10th and 25th reunions and then spent a lot of time together at the 25th. We vowed to stay in touch, but we didn't. I made a few attempts to find him over the years, but was unsuccessful until last Saturday, May 22, 2010. Thanks to this website and the information provided through the actions of Rusty's daughter Kristin, Kim Brimer, WHS '63, and Skip Collins, WHS '64 (chief administrator of this website) I was able to find and speak to my friend Rusty. In spite of his obvious difficulty in speaking, he was very happy to hear from me. As usual, it was as though we had never lost contact. He asked me to call him later this week. How I would love to be able to do that. Rusty will always be my friend, and his memory will always be with me.
Rusty, my friend, I love you man. May you rest in peace.
This part of Rusty's continuing 3 part eulogy is provided by his friend Senator Kim Brimer, class of 1963.
Russell Rusty Herring
Westbury High School Class of 1964
Houston was exploding with growth during our memorable years at Westbury, which all seemed so abbreviated on looking back, but we where so anxious to move on in '62 & '63. Teenagers in southwest Houston were always changing to new schools in elementary, junior high, and then Westbury was built due to the huge enrollment at Bellaire. We had a choice to stay at Bellaire or pick a new school to name, a new mascot to select, and new school colors. The most exciting part of the move was knowing which friends were coming and meeting the younger class that was entering high school for the first time.
Before Westbury opened in 1962 a few of us juniors who played at Bellaire were anxious to get our football team organized. We had played at Johnston after Pershing and we knew our coaches, but we didn't know all our teammates. To get to practice you had to have a carpool and that's when I got to know our team manager, Rusty Herring. Little did I know in '62 that this likeable, "gosh & golly" guy would meet me in college as a fraternity brother for the rest of my life. Rusty went on to play football at Westbury and even though he didn't have the size, he played the line and gave it his heart. That would lead to one memorablel play later.
There were at least six of us ole Rebels that pledged Phi Delta Theta, Texas Eta Chapter at Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas. We were the preppy fraternity with our blue blazers, gray slacks and black/white oxford shoes. Rusty was Mr. Social at SFA, he knew everybody and was always in the Student Union at the Phi Delt table table meeting and greeting. The one thing I will swear to about my brother is that he always dated the most beautiful women on campus. When we would get a car load to go to a big party out of town, I had the car and made sure Rusty rode in the back seat, just so I could keep the rearview mirror on his date. That date was always Mrs. SFA. There are gorgeous women in east Texas and Rusty dated them all!
Back then the jock fraternity was Pi Kappa Alpha and we had an annual full pad football game called "The Greek Bowl" a week after the SFA varsity football team finished spring training. It was a tradition when we all came to SFA, that is until we Westbury boys changed the score and the Pikes wouldn't play us anymore! Since I was the only one with college football experience, we had a play where near the goal line I would come in at fullback. Rusty was playing guard and we had practiced for weeks knowing all the time he was going to have to block the biggest, ugliest, meanest ex-football jock the Pikes had named "Joe"" playing right over Rusty. They had called time out as we were about to score the go ahead touchdown. As we were standing there all looking at each other about to win the game, I couldn't resist as I looked across at Joe and yelled, "hey Joe, here I come you SOB" and then just happened to catch Rusty's face and that "Oh My God" look he was so noted for. They faked it to me and threw a touchdown pass, but I'll never forget that look on Rusty's face. I can't wait to run that play again with my brother up stairs! That one moment in time is so worth life's experience and he would love this story!
You're now in "The Phi Delt Chapter Grand", I love you Brother, make a place for us to play!
The following eulogy is provided by Rusty's friend and fraternaty brother Bill Livesay and reprinted with permission from an email to administration.
Russell (Rusty) Herring
Westbury High School Class of 1964
Rusty and I first met in 1966, the first member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity whom I met at Stephen F Austin University. We were friends, and fraternity brothers for 44-years. I have walked with Rusty in his journey these past two years.
Rusty was always the same -- he was positive there was a miracle that would help. He was always ready for the next round of chemo or radiation. (Darn him! He never lost any of his handsome reddish brown hair, while the rest of us were either bald or gray.)
It was not until this past Sunday, when I visited with him in the hospital, that he interrupted my usual greeting, to say he was ready to go. He wanted to say again that he loved me, and asked me to tell his friends and fraternity brothers that he felt their caring through visits and calls. At that moment, he did not believe he was going to live through Sunday and was afraid he would be unable to express his feelings if he waited any longer.
He loved his friends and, to my chagrin, had a better memory of every notable (and ignominious) event of our past. We enjoyed many a conversation of his remembrances during these past months. Westbury HS, his high school classmates, and his college fraternity brothers, were, in my view, the most important elements of his life.
The following obituary and photo was provided by Rusty's family and Bill Livesay.
Obituary for
Russell Thompson Herring
Russell “Rusty” Thompson Herring, 64, passed away May 26, 2010 in Houston, Texas after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Rusty was born April 4, 1946 in Shreveport, Louisiana to Charles and Dorothy (Thompson) Herring. He attended WestburyHigh School in Houston, TX and went on to graduate from StephenF.AustinStateUniversity in Nacogdoches, TX. He spent many years working in the dairy business for Bordens and Oak Farms and spent the past 14 years as an inspector in the construction business.
He is survived by 2 children, Tyler Herring of Dallas and Kristin Bryan and husband Brett of Humble along with 2 wonderful grandsons, Cy and Keaton Bryan. He is preceded in death by his father, Charles Herring, mother Dorothy Thompson Herring and brother Charles Herring.
Rusty was an avid sports fan and would talk LSU football with any interested person. He was a proud and active member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity chapter from SFA and was loved and supported by his brothers to the end. Quick-witted and fun loving, he was kind and generous, adored by his family and grandchildren and loved by countless friends. He passed away peacefully, by God’s grace, surrounded by his family and friends.
Our family would like to give special thanks to Rusty’s Phi Delta Theta brothers for their continuous love and support.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 2:00 PM at
Kim Brimer (1963)
Russell Rusty Herring
Westbury High School Class of 1964
Houston was exploding with growth during our memorable years at Westbury, which all seemed so abbreviated on looking back, but we where so anxious to move on in '62 & '63. Teenagers in southwest Houston were always changing to new schools in elementary, junior high, and then Westbury was built due to the huge enrollment at Bellaire. We had a choice to stay at Bellaire or pick a new school to name, a new mascot to select, and new school colors. The most exciting part of the move was knowing which friends were coming and meeting the younger class that was entering high school for the first time.
Before Westbury opened in 1962 a few of us juniors who played at Bellaire were anxious to get our football team organized. We had played at Johnston after Pershing and we knew our coaches, but we didn't know all our teammates. To get to practice you had to have a carpool and that's when I got to know our team manager, Rusty Herring. Little did I know in '62 that this likeable, "gosh & golly" guy would meet me in college as a fraternity brother for the rest of my life. Rusty went on to play football at Westbury and even though he didn't have the size, he played the line and gave it his heart. That would lead to one memorablel play later.
There were at least six of us ole Rebels that pledged Phi Delta Theta, Texas Eta Chapter at Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas. We were the preppy fraternity with our blue blazers, gray slacks and black/white oxford shoes. Rusty was Mr. Social at SFA, he knew everybody and was always in the Student Union at the Phi Delt table table meeting and greeting. The one thing I will swear to about my brother is that he always dated the most beautiful women on campus. When we would get a car load to go to a big party out of town, I had the car and made sure Rusty rode in the back seat, just so I could keep the rearview mirror on his date. That date was always Mrs. SFA. There are gorgeous women in east Texas and Rusty dated them all!
Back then the jock fraternity was Pi Kappa Alpha and we had an annual full pad football game called "The Greek Bowl" a week after the SFA varsity football team finished spring training. It was a tradition when we all came to SFA, that is until we Westbury boys changed the score and the Pikes wouldn't play us anymore! Since I was the only one with college football experience, we had a play where near the goal line I would come in at fullback. Rusty was playing guard and we had practiced for weeks knowing all the time he was going to have to block the biggest, ugliest, meanest ex-football jock the Pikes had named "Joe"" playing right over Rusty. They had called time out as we were about to score the go ahead touchdown. As we were standing there all looking at each other about to win the game, I couldn't resist as I looked across at Joe and yelled, "hey Joe, here I come you SOB" and then just happened to catch Rusty's face and that "Oh My God" look he was so noted for. They faked it to me and threw a touchdown pass, but I'll never forget that look on Rusty's face. I can't wait to run that play again with my brother up stairs! That one moment in time is so worth life's experience and he would love this story!
Kim Brimer Westbury class of 1963
Jesse (Skip) Collins (1964)
Russell (Rusty) Herring
Westbury High School Class of 1964
Rusty and I first met in 1966, the first member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity whom I met at Stephen F Austin University. We were friends, and fraternity brothers for 44-years. I have walked with Rusty in his journey these past two years.
Rusty was always the same -- he was positive there was a miracle that would help. He was always ready for the next round of chemo or radiation. (Darn him! He never lost any of his handsome reddish brown hair, while the rest of us were either bald or gray.)
It was not until this past Sunday, when I visited with him in the hospital, that he interrupted my usual greeting, to say he was ready to go. He wanted to say again that he loved me, and asked me to tell his friends and fraternity brothers that he felt their caring through visits and calls. At that moment, he did not believe he was going to live through Sunday and was afraid he would be unable to express his feelings if he waited any longer.
He loved his friends and, to my chagrin, had a better memory of every notable (and ignominious) event of our past. We enjoyed many a conversation of his remembrances during these past months. Westbury HS, his high school classmates, and his college fraternity brothers, were, in my view, the most important elements of his life.
For my friend and Brother,
Bill Livesay
BillLivesay@andrewskurth.com
Jesse (Skip) Collins (1964)
Obituary for
Russell Thompson Herring
Russell “Rusty” Thompson Herring, 64, passed away May 26, 2010 inHouston , Texas Shreveport , Louisiana Westbury High School in Houston , TX and went on to graduate from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches , TX
He is survived by 2 children, Tyler Herring of Dallas and Kristin Bryan and husband Brett of Humble along with 2 wonderful grandsons, Cy and Keaton Bryan. He is preceded in death by his father, Charles Herring, mother Dorothy Thompson Herring and brother Charles Herring.
Rusty was an avid sports fan and would talk LSU football with any interested person. He was a proud and active member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity chapter from SFA and was loved and supported by his brothers to the end. Quick-witted and fun loving, he was kind and generous, adored by his family and grandchildren and loved by countless friends. He passed away peacefully, by God’s grace, surrounded by his family and friends.
Our family would like to give special thanks to Rusty’s Phi Delta Theta brothers for their continuous love and support.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 2:00 PM at
St. Martin’s Episcopal Church (717 Sage Road Houston , TX
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the:
-Phi DeltaTheta Foundation- https://makeagift.phideltatheta.org/
You may also visit Rusty’s online memorial at http://tributes.com/.