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WEIRTON – Like most American families, not everything has always gone as planned or desired for the Bruneys.
However, any shortcomings or problems have been overcome because of their love, admiration and respect for one another.
The aforementioned traits are second to none, including their common love of education, athletics and Martins Ferry High School. Those have all become an added bonus.
Everything rolled into one seemingly made them a no-brain selection to receive the 2010 Family Heritage Award, which was presented here Thursday evening as part of the Lou Holtz Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame induction ceremony held at the Serbian American Cultural Center.
“To honor the Bruney Family from Martins Ferry is really special for me,” Holtz said. “Anytime you played Martins Ferry, there was a Bruney and a Groza on the field. It didn’t matter what year, so to honor them really means a lot.”
Saying the award meant a lot to the Bruney family is probably selling it well short.
“Anytime you get an honor in your hometown with your family is great,” said Fred Bruney, who flew up from Atlanta for the banquet. “(When I heard about the award) I thought if I can possibly make it, I am going to. It’s really nice of Lou to select us.”
Dave Bruney – the Martins Ferry head football coach and athletic director – accepted the award on behalf of his family, which measured 27 strong in the audience and filled some five tables.
“We’re humbled, proud, privileged and honored to be here,” Bruney said.
While Bruney joked in the opening of his speech that the family loaded into a Martins Ferry school bus to make the trip, he wasted little time in recognizing the Bruneys who’ve since passed on, but laid the foundation over the course of time.
“I am accepting on behalf of those who aren’t here,” Bruney said. “David and Martha Bruney and their children Ed, Art, Chuck, Peg and Bob provided all of us with a launching pad to success by providing early on in our lives discipline, stable home environment and we knew we were wanted.”
Those final three factors have stuck with the entire family over the course of the last 85 years.
“I think if kids have those things you’ve got a heck of an advantage, and you’re well on your way to success,” Bruney continued.
The aforementioned Fred and Ed “Pepper” Bruney are the oldest living members of the Bruney family at 79. Pepper is actually older by three months.
Fred is probably the most famous Bruney in terms of football playing. He was a team MVP at Ohio State in 1952 and was twice named all-Big 10. He had a 42-year career in the NFL spanning as a player and coach.
“Most people know Fred as an athlete, but I know him as a great family man,” Dave said. “This is a heritage award and my cousin Pepper and Bob and how they raised their families. We got all of that because of the base we came from.”
The Bruney family’s success can’t be measured in wins or losses or any kind of stats on the field. It’s off the field where they’ve continually made their mark as many members of their family have gone on to careers in education and most have worked – at some point – at Martins Ferry High School where it all began.
“The education part of it is sometimes missed,” Pepper said. “We’re all teachers and educators for the most part. It’s scary sometimes to think about the amount of people we’ve had contact with and touched.”
Touching people in a positive manner is one of the main objectives for inclusion in the Lou Holtz Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame, which definitely made the Bruney Family a no-brain choice for the 2010 Family Heritage Award.
SETH’S SCOOPS
- FRED AND Holtz’ friendship goes back a ways.
“I’ve known Lou since he went to Ohio State,” Fred said. “Anytime, anyone from the Ohio Valley gets a job like that, you follow their careers.”
- DAVE – who was inducted into the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame last month in Columbus – was quick to point out that there are plenty of “great football families” in Martins Ferry, which makes receiving the honor even greater.
“The McFarlands and the Josephs just to name a few jump out,” Bruney said. “There are a number of great football families (in Martins Ferry) who could have received this award and may eventually receive this award.”
- BEFORE THE program got fully under way Thursday, a live auction was held. The main attraction was an over-night golf outing with Holtz. The package included golf for three people with Holtz at one of the four golf clubs in which he belongs, dinner, breakfast, lunch and just a chance to hang out with one of the most successful coaches of all time. It went for a mind-boggling $26,500. Other auctioned items included a Sidney Crosby jersey, a Brian Kelly-autographed Notre Dame helmet and an Ohio State and Notre Dame gift package.
- MT. UNION head coach Larry Keheres was in the audience for the event and was recognized by keynote speaker Brian Kelly and Holtz for all of the titles the Purple Raiders have won.
Staskey can be reached at sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com