Dr. Rusel Hollister: a native Californian, he moved here after a youth filled with the beaches, mountains and desserts of Southern California, living most of his first 24 years 1 mile from Disneyland. He attended the University of California Irvine for his Bachelor's with Honors in the Biological Sciences, and then his Master of Science degree in Medical Pharmacology and Toxicology. He gladly left California behind in 1974 when he was offered a position in research at The Upjohn Company. After three years in research, he decided he wanted to use his surgical skills to provide health care for people.

In 1977, he went to the University of Detroit Dental School, from which he graduated in 1981 with his Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree. When he had first visited Michigan on his job interview trip, he was greatly impressed with the friendliness and kindness of the residents of the Kalamazoo area, so there was no doubt that he would return to Kalamazoo to practice dentistry. Of course, his wife, Ann, being a native of Kalamazoo, helped him decide, so they moved back to Kalamazoo in 1981 and began his practice of dentistry.

Ann and Rus were married in 1975. They have a daughter, Ellie, who was born here in 1989 and a son, Rich, also born here in 1991. They enjoy winter and summer sports, camping, hiking and competitive target shooting. Rus has become a Certified Shooting Coach and coaches a 4-H Junior Team and accompanies his athletes to National Championships. Rus and his family live on a small farm in Cooper Township, where they raise chickens, beef cattle and various 4-H Projects.