BENTON, Ark. — The 50th Salt Bowl is set to take place Friday, August 30, and no matter what side many sit on for this unique rivalry, there's one face familiar to all that will be missing.
"This is my 11th season starting at Benton High School, and it's a great place to coach and be in the community and everything. And part, of the reason for that, is because of people like Freddie Reinhardt," Benton head coach, Brad Harris said. "I can remember the first year that I was here meeting Freddie, and you can tell he's just a genuine person. Loved the Benton Panthers, and everybody loved Freddie Reinhardt."
Long-time fan and Benton community member, Freddie Rhinehart passed away in February, and his death has been a hard hit for his community that dubbed him 'Benton's Number One Fan."
“Freddie was here no matter what, even if it was 30 degrees. He was here when it was hot, he was [here] no matter if we lost the week before, he always had a smile on his face. He was always encouraging," Benton High senior, Isaiah Gibson said. "Every time I would talk to him before a game, I would try to anyway. He was always happy. He was never sad. He was never mad. He was excited for football.”
Gibson said Freddie was all about morale and ensuring the team felt good. He added that Freddie always had good energy and had a smile on his face, rain or shine.
His infectious personality was also known throughout the city, especially at his favorite restaurant The Burger Shack.
“Freddie ate lunch here every day. His routine every day would be to walk uptown, make his rounds through the courthouse, all through the shops of downtown, and then land here at lunchtime," said longtime Benton Panthers game announcer Jim Gardner.
Gardner described how for the last 13 years every game, Freddie rode shotgun with him to the games.
The loss hit him hard last week during their first scrimmage game of the year when he went to Hot Springs without going to pick him up.
And although Freddie was 73, Gardner said he would not be able to tell.
“Freddie was probably 22 at heart, and that enthusiasm would come out every Friday morning, when he would call me about eight o'clock and say, what color shirt do I wear tonight? Black, white, maroon, or gray?" Gardner said.
As they work to find ways to honor Freddie's legacy and embody his spirit, the team continues to find special ways to do so, including dedicating the season to him with hopes of winning a state championship.
“We want to we want to do the right thing. We know Freddie would love to have won a state championship at Benton. That's something we were not ever able to give him. So if this year, we could make a run at it. You know, that would be awesome for Freddie," Harris said. “Faith came first to Freddie, and that shaped the way that he was friendly with all people. It didn't matter your color, it didn't matter your socioeconomic status. Freddie loved everybody, and I think that's a hole in our community. We would be a whole lot better as a community if everybody loved each other the way Freddie loved all of us," Gardner said.