How two of Penns Valley athletics’ biggest supporters are being honored, remembered
Last year, Penns Valley High School athletics lost two of its biggest supporters in Bob and “Little Bobby” Musser.
If you went to any of the school’s sporting events often, chances were, you knew them. The father and son were both alumni of the high school — Bob graduated in 1967 and Bobby in 2006 — and stayed involved with Penns Valley sports as avid fans and supporters.
Bob and Little Bobby both died in August 2023, within a week of each other. Since then, their presences have been missed throughout the Penns Valley community.
“There’s a big void at our venues now,” Nate Althouse, Penns Valley’s athletic director, said. “Their absences, it’s felt.”
To continue their legacy and support across the community, Bradley Musser, Bob’s grandson and Little Bobby’s nephew, and longtime friend Lucas Sharer helped come up with and organize an idea for the community to continue to honor and remember the pair.
The inaugural “Musser Memorial Dart Tournament” will take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17 at the Frosty Hook, a Spring Mills bar and restaurant that Bob owned. The pay-to-play darts tournament will benefit two post-graduation scholarships for Penns Valley senior athletes.
Bradley, a 2016 Penns Valley graduate, and Lucas, a 2017 graduate, grew up playing sports together. Their Little League teams were often sponsored by Bob Musser and the Frosty Hook, and Bob would provide equipment to any kids and families in need.
“He always told my dad ... ‘Hey, if there’s a kid that needs cleats or a glove or something, let me know and I’ll help them out,’” Sharer said. “Bob was a big-time giver.”
Known by others for his humble approach to helping the community — especially in athletics — financially, Bob and the Frosty Hook made donations all over different Penns Valley athletic programs.
“My Pap always had like, a mean look to his face, but a heart of gold,” Bradley said.
But it was never about drawing attention to himself or the Frosty Hook. He simply just wanted to find ways to help those who needed it.
“He didn’t ask anybody. He didn’t make a big deal,” Althouse said. “He just wanted to make sure that if there was a way that he could help, that he would do it.”
One of the biggest motivations for Bradley and Sharer to kick start the darts tournament fundraiser was because of that generous impact that Bob Musser had on his local community.
To them, it’s an opportunity to recognize his legacy and carry it on.
“We all thought it was a great way to honor both of them for how much they meant to this community and the athletic programs,” Bradley said.
Little Bobby, who Sharer said was one of the “kindest, most down-to-earth souls you’d ever had met,” was known for not just being at every Penns Valley sporting event, but also engaging, chatting and having fun with the all the other supporters.
“Everybody talked to him and he talked to everybody,” Sharer said. “He always just had a happy-go-lucky personality to him.”
If Little Bobby was at a Penns Valley game, you’d know it. He made people laugh — especially with his “you’re fired” catchphrase.
“Anytime he walked into a room, a light shined and smiles turned on people’s faces,” Bradley said.
While Bob and Little Bobby were at just about every Penns Valley sporting event possible, Althouse and the school’s athletic department specifically recognized one spot where you could often find them.
Near the five-yard line of their football field’s sidelines, a sign that says “Bob’s Spot” and “In Memory of Bob & Bobby Musser” now stands to honor and remember the father and son.
“Those two together just made places happy,” Bradley said. “Everybody always had a smile talking about them or talking with them.”
Bradley Musser and Sharer said they’ve already received a ton of interest in the upcoming darts tournament, even from people who don’t know a thing about throwing darts. Most of them just want to support the cause: honoring Bob and Bobby through assisting the future of two Penns Valley athletes.
“I think it’s important to show support to the younger generations,” Sharer said. “(We want to) give them some perspective too as to, you do good in the community where you can and you help out, and that goes a long way.”
Registration for the darts tournament is required by Feb. 14, with each three-person team costing $30. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.
