STATESBORO, Ga - Robert M. (Rusty) Garbutt, was born in Toombs County and was was the only child of Robert M. and Fronia Garbutt. He lost his father at the young age of 12 and lost his mother 11 years later when he was only 23. Losing both of his parents so early in life, especially growing up without a father during the Great Depression, shaped Rusty into a hardworking individual with tremendous work ethic.
Rusty believed that the best way to choose a path to a career was to have a college education. In order to do so, he financed his college education by playing football and working different odd jobs.