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Article by: Eric Sschelkopf,
The Kane County Chronicle , August 26, 2006 David Villarreal would have
loved to watch his son, Dusty, playing football Friday night at Burgess
Field.
Unfortunately, Dusty, 15, collapsed
and died of a heart ailment in May while out with friends. He was a
starting defensive end on the Geneva High School freshman football team.
And Dusty will not soon be
forgotten. At halftime during the sophomore game, new goal posts at
Burgess Field were dedicated in his memory. The posts feature his number,
66. 
The stands were filled with fellow
students wearing shirts
bearing his name and number.
"He should be out there with his
friends playing," Villarreal said. "But this is just tremendous.
Everybody has given us so much support. It is nice to know that a lot of
people care about us."
By his side at the ceremony was his
wife, Jena. The couple also have a son, David, who is 19.
Dusty's death took everyone by
surprise.
"He had experienced fainting spells
in the last two years," the elder David Villarreal said. "But in
February, I had him checked out by a cardiologist and they said his heart
was fine."
Students raised nearly $5,000 to buy
the new goal posts. The Geneva All Sports Boosters matched that amount.
"It was unbelievable the way
everybody pulled together," student activities director Terry Burns said.
"The students wanted to turn their feelings into positive energy, and they
did it."
Dusty dreamed of someday playing for
the varsity football team, said Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, who announced
Friday's game.
"It was his dream to play Friday
nights at Burgess Field," Burns said. "This is a fitting tribute to a true
Geneva Viking."
A scholarship also has been
established at Geneva High School in his name.
He enjoyed playing several sports,
including traveling soccer with the Strikers.
Rob Parker and Mark Urban were his
teammates on the Strikers. In memory of their friend, they wore shirts
bearing his name and number.
"He was nice to everyone," Parker
said. "He'd be the one to hang out with everyone."
Urban agreed.
"He was never mean to everyone,"
Urban said. "Everyone knew him as a nice kid."
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