Barrington High mourns 'Voice of the Broncos'
A plaque honoring Hubert "Hugh" Frebault hangs in Barrington High School's Hall of Fame, for his 25 years of announcing Bronco football. But that was just one of the many roles he played at the school.
Frebault died on Saturday. The 45-year resident of Barrington, was 80.
"He was an invaluable district employee, who wore Barrington on his sleeve," says former athletic director Bob Carpenter. "And he quietly transferred that spirit to a lot of us who worked around him."
Frebault came to Barrington High School in 1964 from his native Ohio with a degree in theater and master's degree in education, both from Ohio University.
What started as a career teaching English quickly expanded to include a variety of activities. Colleagues remember he was the moderator for student council, and he also helped start an FM radio station at the school, WBPR, or Barrington Public Radio.
"Hugh was a kind and gentle man, who did whatever anyone asked him to do," said Volker Engel, former associate principal at Barrington High.
As a teacher of underclassmen English, he directed the freshman play every year, rotating between a drama, comedy or murder mystery staged in the round to give students a different style of theater.
"He just loved working with kids," said his daughter, Carrie Frank of Lombard. "I mean he loved theater and teaching English, but mostly he loved being able to reach kids."
During the spring and summer of 1970, Frebault added human resources to his load. When the school found itself without a principal or superintendent, he stepped up to do many of the administrative duties, including the recruiting and hiring of teachers.
"That one year, we turned over something like 60 percent of the school's staff," Carpenter recalled. "He was busy."
Saturdays, though, were reserved for football. With a voice developed from his theatrical background, Frebault brought a professional air to his play-by-play delivery. He also brought his wry wit, which audiences members loved.
"You had to listen closely to get all of his innuendoes," Carpenter said. "People loved him. It was the thing to do on Saturdays in Barrington, to go to the games."
The most successful team Frebault's announced for was in 1983, when the team made it to the state semifinal game, and on which his son Philip played on the offensive line.
"Every once in a while, he'd throw something in there during his announcing, just to see if people were paying attention," said Philip Frebault, now of Oak River, Minn.
Frebault was the voice of the Broncos when the school first installed lights, in 1987. He stepped down in 1989, the year his wife, Lois, died.
The plaque he was awarded in 1995 reads: "For his outstanding contributions in the area of announcing. For 25 years he was the voice of Bronco football games. Hugh's warm and comfortable style demonstrated his class for generations of Bronco fans."
Along with his high school duties, Frebault was just as involved with the Rotary Club of Barrington, serving as president before accepting a role as district governor.
"He led the student exchange program for a while, and he also led groups of young professionals overseas, to places like England, Russia, Spain and Poland," his son added, "all to spread the Rotary word."
Besides two children, Mr. Frebault is survived by five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife and a son, Christopher.
Visitation takes place from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 149 W. Main St., before a 10:30 a.m. funeral Mass on Thursday at St. Anne Church, 120 N. Ela St., both in Barrington.