Roll Call Tribute

Hillier Funeral Home - College Station obituary
4080 State Hwy 6 South
College Station, TX 77845
(979) 985-2060

Russell Winn Thompson
October 28, 1962 - March 12, 2016

“So put a penny on ol' Sully,
And wish me some luck.
And yell farmers fight
when our boys are backed up.
Throw your arms around each other
and sing Hullabaloo.
'Cause that's what we do when we bleed maroon.”
--Granger Smith

When their son was born on October 28, 1962—the same night the Aggies “beat the hell outta” Baylor 6-3 at Baylor’s homecoming—Rusty Thompson’s parents, Robert Edwin Thompson ’57 and Betty Rookh Russell, of Conroe, TX, knew their son was destined to becoming a third-generation Aggie. Rusty and his brother Steve (wife Verna) grew up immersed in a sea of maroon and devoted to traditions that define the Spirit of Aggieland. As a kindergartener, when Rusty’s teacher asked her students to draw pictures of Thanksgiving, he was the only child who chose to highlight the Aggie-Longhorn football game. He spent his childhood days visiting College Station with his older Aggie cousins, watching football games and attending Aggie Bonfire and Corps reviews. To his friends, Rusty was the ultimate 12th Man, and they wondered about his clothing choices on the rare occasion when he wasn’t wearing maroon.
After high school, Rusty applied to only one university, and on the day that he received his acceptance letter to Texas A&M, he felt his “purpose in life had been achieved.” He would need that conviction through the challenges he faced as a “fish” in the Corps of Cadets (in Squadron 5, “The Filthy Fifth,” where he later became Commanding Officer). Here, his strength and determination were tested as he learned the Aggie Core Values—especially Selfless Service—and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Education, then his M. Ed. in Educational Administration. He would carry these lessons with him as he spent three years working for Texas Tech in the Department of Housing and Dining Services. Luckily, in 1990, Rusty enthusiastically accepted an offer to return to Aggieland through the Department of Residence Life. Rusty went on to hold many roles working with students at Texas A&M, including advisor to Aggie Bonfire, where he guided the university through one of its darkest times after the stack collapsed in 1999. Rusty was also the advisor for the Aggie Yell Leaders, Class Councils, the Aggie Wranglers, Muster, Fish Camp—for which he was a namesake in both 1995 and 2015—and several other student organizations. Rusty was especially proud of advising students in planning the Big Event year after year, as well as overseeing the student creation of both Maroon Out and First Yell. His devotion and passion for students eventually earned him the role of Director of Student Activities at Texas A&M, his dream position. In this role he continued to impact thousands of lives as he worked with students to develop themselves and uphold Aggie traditions.
All told, Rusty served for more than two decades in TAMU’s Division of Student Affairs, but perhaps his greatest achievement was meeting and marrying Tina Marie Kozelsky ’87 on July 18, 1987. Rusty and Tina later welcomed two more Aggies into their family: son Blayne '10 (wife Janie ’08) and daughter Brenna ’16. Rusty also served as a leader for his son’s Boy Scout troop and at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. A devoted family man, Rusty loved camping and cooking out, country music, playing basketball, and watching Aggie sports with his wife and children. Of course, his favorite phrase was “Howdy,” and his quick wit and always-present humor made him engaging and well-liked, particularly as a Student Advisor, for which he received awards, including Advisor of the Year, the President’s Meritorious Service Award, the Randy Matson Award, and the John J. Koldus Award.
Each year, Rusty would almost burst with pride as he and Tina would distribute Aggie rings to students, and he counted his own Aggie ring amongst his prized possessions, along with the crucifix he always wore around his neck. The three most important things to Rusty were “faith, family, and being a Fightin’ Texas Aggie,” and he dutifully served each cause every day. His legacy of personal character includes his lifelong devotion to Christ and the “time-honored and proven values…and treasured traditions” of Texas A&M, as well as a conviction that the purpose of life is to love and serve others. Rusty is survived and remembered by his wife Tina, son Blayne (and daughter-in-law Janie), daughter Brenna, brother Steve and parents Robert and Betty, as well as countless Aggies, past and present.
The Life Celebration for Rusty will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Center at 11am on Saturday, March 19, 2016, with a reception following at St. Anthony Catholic Church. Attendees are encouraged to wear maroon. Visitation will be held at Hillier Funeral Home of College Station on Friday, March 18th from 4-7pm, followed by a Rosary at 7pm. A memorial tribute will be held on campus at Rudder Auditorium at 7pm on Monday, March 21st.

Obituary for Russell Winn Thompson
“So put a penny on ol' Sully,
And wish me some luck.
And yell farmers fight
when our boys are backed up.
Throw your arms around each other
and sing Hullabaloo.
'Cause that's what we do when we bleed maroon.”
--Granger Smith

When their son was born on October 28, 1962—the same night the Aggies “beat the hell outta” Baylor 6-3 at Baylor’s homecoming—Rusty Thompson’s parents, Robert Edwin Thompson ’57 and Betty Rookh Russell, of Conroe, TX, knew their son was destined to becoming a third-generation Aggie. Rusty and his brother Steve (wife Verna) grew up immersed in a sea of maroon and devoted to traditions that define the Spirit of Aggieland. As a kindergartener, when Rusty’s teacher asked her students to draw pictures of Thanksgiving, he was the only child who chose to highlight the Aggie-Longhorn football game. He spent his childhood days visiting College Station with his older Aggie cousins, watching football games and attending Aggie Bonfire and Corps reviews. To his friends, Rusty was the ultimate 12th Man, and they wondered about his clothing choices on the rare occasion when he wasn’t wearing maroon.
After high school, Rusty applied to only one university, and on the day that he received his acceptance letter to Texas A&M, he felt his “purpose in life had been achieved.” He would need that conviction through the challenges he faced as a “fish” in the Corps of Cadets (in Squadron 5, “The Filthy Fifth,” where he later became Commanding Officer). Here, his strength and determination were tested as he learned the Aggie Core Values—especially Selfless Service—and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Education, then his M. Ed. in Educational Administration. He would carry these lessons with him as he spent three years working for Texas Tech in the Department of Housing and Dining Services. Luckily, in 1990, Rusty enthusiastically accepted an offer to return to Aggieland through the Department of Residence Life. Rusty went on to hold many roles working with students at Texas A&M, including advisor to Aggie Bonfire, where he guided the university through one of its darkest times after the stack collapsed in 1999. Rusty was also the advisor for the Aggie Yell Leaders, Class Councils, the Aggie Wranglers, Muster, Fish Camp—for which he was a namesake in both 1995 and 2015—and several other student organizations. Rusty was especially proud of advising students in planning the Big Event year after year, as well as overseeing the student creation of both Maroon Out and First Yell. His devotion and passion for students eventually earned him the role of Director of Student Activities at Texas A&M, his dream position. In this role he continued to impact thousands of lives as he worked with students to develop themselves and uphold Aggie traditions.
All told, Rusty served for more than two decades in TAMU’s Division of Student Affairs, but perhaps his greatest achievement was meeting and marrying Tina Marie Kozelsky ’87 on July 18, 1987. Rusty and Tina later welcomed two more Aggies into their family: son Blayne '10 (wife Janie ’08) and daughter Brenna ’16. Rusty also served as a leader for his son’s Boy Scout troop and at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. A devoted family man, Rusty loved camping and cooking out, country music, playing basketball, and watching Aggie sports with his wife and children. Of course, his favorite phrase was “Howdy,” and his quick wit and always-present humor made him engaging and well-liked, particularly as a Student Advisor, for which he received awards, including Advisor of the Year, the President’s Meritorious Service Award, the Randy Matson Award, and the John J. Koldus Award.
Each year, Rusty would almost burst with pride as he and Tina would distribute Aggie rings to students, and he counted his own Aggie ring amongst his prized possessions, along with the crucifix he always wore around his neck. The three most important things to Rusty were “faith, family, and being a Fightin’ Texas Aggie,” and he dutifully served each cause every day. His legacy of personal character includes his lifelong devotion to Christ and the “time-honored and proven values…and treasured traditions” of Texas A&M, as well as a conviction that the purpose of life is to love and serve others. Rusty is survived and remembered by his wife Tina, son Blayne (and daughter-in-law Janie), daughter Brenna, brother Steve and parents Robert and Betty, as well as countless Aggies, past and present.
The Life Celebration for Rusty will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Center at 11am on Saturday, March 19, 2016, with a reception following at St. Anthony Catholic Church. Attendees are encouraged to wear maroon. Visitation will be held at Hillier Funeral Home of College Station on Friday, March 18th from 4-7pm, followed by a Rosary at 7pm. A memorial tribute will be held on campus at Rudder Auditorium at 7pm on Monday, March 21st.


Visitation


MAR 18. 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM

Hillier Funeral Home - College Station
4080 State Highway 6 South
College Station, TX, US, 77845


Service


MAR 19. 11:00 AM

St. Mary's Catholic Church
603 Church Avenue
College Station, TX, US, 77840


Cemetery Details

Aggie Field of Honor

College Station, TX,
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From kbtx.com

TAMU Dir. of Student Activities Rusty Thompson passes away

By Kristen Guilfoos | Posted: Sat 10:34 PM, Mar 12, 2016 | Updated: Sun 10:50 PM, Mar 13, 2016

College Station - Longtime Director of Student Activities at Texas A&M, Rusty Thompson, passed away Saturday evening, according to the Association of Former Students.

He had a massive heart attack last Friday and had been on life support at Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute in Houston ever since.

He's been a familiar face for more than 20 years at Texas A&M.

"It's easy to tell when you talk to Rusty that he cares about you right away," said Josiah Bezet, who is a Texas A&M Senior and Chair of Muster.
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(Published in) The (Bryan-College Station) Eagle (on) March 13, 2016

Popular Texas A&M administrator Rusty Thompson dies

Eagle Staff Report

Beloved Texas A&M administrator Rusty Thompson passed away Saturday evening at a Houston hospital where he was rushed a week ago following a heart attack.

Thompson, director of student activities and a 1985 graduate of A&M, spent most of his 30-year career working with Aggies.

Services are pending for Thompson, who collapsed March 4 while surrounded by co-workers and students attending a daytime yell practice and barbecue near Kyle Field.

Thompson, who had served in his current post for just over three years, spent all but 2 years and 10 months working for his alma mater. He was a residence hall director and summer conference coordinator at Texas Tech during his brief departure from Aggieland.

Once he returned as area coordinator, he worked his way through the department of residence life, eventually becoming assistant director of residence education and assistant director of the Memorial Student Center. He was serving in that position, as well as Aggie Bonfire adviser, in 1999 when the 59-foot-tall log tower collapsed without warning, killing 11 students and one former student, while injuring another two dozen.

The former yell leader adviser most recently was on the Aggie Muster committee, which plans the annual April 21 ceremony honoring those who died in the past year.

Well over 700 people today have responded “here” on a Facebook page created to support him – Rally Behind Rusty. It’s what Aggies say at Muster when the name of a person who passed away is announced.

The outpouring of support shown to Thompson’s family has included many cards and notes on social media, including this comment from Sheri Smith Kennedy: “We should all strive to make a positive impact on the world like Rusty did. He will be greatly missed, but Heaven is a little bit brighter today.”

Thompson’s last post on Twitter was Feb. 1 in when he retweeted a link from Aggie Muster’s account. It displayed a quote from former U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, also an Aggie:

"Until that Muster candle is lit for us one day, Aggies we should give something of ourselves to make a better community, a better country.”

The Eagle will post information about services once announced.
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(Published in) The (Bryan-College Station) Eagle (on) March 16, 2016

Services for Rusty Thompson are set

Eagle staff report

Service information for Rusty Thompson, a longtime Texas A&M administrator, has been announced.

Thompson died Saturday evening in a Houston hospital where he was rushed a week ago following a heart attack.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Hillier Funeral Home, 4080 Texas 6 South, in College Station. Rosary will be said from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 603 Church Ave., in College Station.

A memorial for students will be at 7 p.m. on Texas A&M's campus.