Rudy Kuss
(Football, 1960)
When remembering the football
legacy of “Copper” Crotty, images of stifling defense and dominating,
punishing ground attacks are rooted in the record books of those glory
days. There was one exception to the “three yards and a cloud of dust”
imagery and that was the aerial prowess of our next Hall of Fame
inductee, Rudy Kuss. Rudy Kuss quarterbacked the DHS squads to an 8-1
record in 1957, a 7-2 record in 1958 and an undefeated 9-0 season in
1959. He compiled a remarkable 24-3 record in those three years. Even
more remarkable is the way he did it, and that was with a superb passing
game. When Rudy graduated in 1960 he held the career passing yards mark
at DHS with 1105 yards, and he set records that stood both as DHS and
state records for a very long time. Against traditional Thanksgiving Day
rival, Norwalk, in 1959 Rudy threw for 279 yards and six touchdowns.
The 279 yard DHS aerial record lasted until 1986 and the six touchdown
passes in a game were a then state record which lasted until 1970. That
mark is still a DHS record 50 years later. His exploits on the football
field earned him the Kiwanis Club Football Award in 1959, a berth on the
1960 Nutmeg Bowl team and a football scholarship to Rutgers University.
Rudy Kuss was also a four year starter on the Hatter baseball team
from1957 through 1960 as both a pitcher and third baseman. He took a
perfect game into the 7th inning of a 1960 game. Even after graduation
Rudy continued playing baseball and did so in summer leagues in and
around Danbury. Upon graduation from college Rudy became a New York City
police officer and received a law degree from St. John’s University. In
1995 as a lawyer for Elderly Services Rudy began taking on issues such
as Medicare and insurance problems. Additionally, his extensive pro bono
work has earned him community service recognition. Rudy has kept his
hand in coaching over the years, most recently coaching at Brookfield
High School. He makes his home in New Milford where he has lived since
1985.