Born and raised in the Portage area, and a graduate of Portage schools, Dave Fravel has always been dedicated to his community. Working, volunteering, and raising family here, Fravel loves the Portage community and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
“I’ve always loved the area,” Fravel said. “When my wife and I were building our lives together, we couldn’t think of a better place to settle down and raise a family. It’s just such a wonderful place with such wonderful people. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I absolutely love it here.”
For nearly twenty years now, Fravel has been a hardworking employee of Bethlehem Steel, now Arcelormittal, the largest steel producing company in the world. It was by sheer luck that Fravel landed a job with the steel mills. His father found out about some job openings, grabbed an application for him, Fravel applied, and the rest is history.
“I work with some really good people there, and that makes my days even more enjoyable, because I have more to look forward to when I go in to work every day,” Fravel said.
In his spare time, Fravel volunteer with the Portage Little League, where he has volunteered for the past twelve years and where he currently serves as the President of the board. Founded in 1939, Little League Baseball, Incorporated is a non-profit organization with the simple mission to “promote, develop, supervise, and voluntarily assist in all ways the interest of those who will participate in Little League Baseball and Softball.” Through leadership and guidance, all those involved with the Little League program assist children in developing the qualities of citizenship, discipline, teamwork and physical well-being.
“It’s pretty cool when I run into kids that I’ve coached, and they get so excited and have to come over and say hi to me,” Fravel said. “It feels like I’m making a difference in each of their lives, which is an incredible thing and something I wouldn’t trade.”
Fravel became involved with the Portage Little League when his son began playing baseball with them twelve years ago, and hasn’t wanted to leave since. Thriving on how the kids interact with each other and seeing their faces light up with everything that they learn through the program.
“I stick around for the kids.” Fravel said. “It gives them a good place to go to spend their time, play baseball, and make new friends.”
Between work at the steel mills and his volunteer work with the Portage Little League, Fravel doesn’t have much spare time. What time he does have, Fravel likes to spend with his wife and kids, attending his son’s baseball games and his daughter’s softball games. They also enjoy going on family vacations together.
“We went on vacation last year to North Carolina, and my kids decided that they wanted to volunteer at a local food bank for a day while we were on vacation, which was a lot of fun,” Fravel said. “When I finally get some more free time, I think it would be a really great use of my time to volunteer at a food bank here in Portage.”