Hall of Fame
Russell, a native of Detroit, and graduate of Detroit Northwestern HS, anchored Wayne's men's tennis immediately after World War II. He earned varsity letters in 1945, 1946 and 1947, and participated in the 1945 and 1946 NCAA National Championships. Along with teammate Gerald Gurman, Russell also won the inaugural Mid-American Conference (MAC) doubles championship.
Under WSU Hall of Fame coach Norman G. Wann, the Tartars, led by Russell and Robert Ryland, reemerged in 1945 as a Midwest tennis power. Ryland is also being inducted today into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame. Men's tennis had been dropped after the 19_2 season because of the war, and the sport was reinstated in 1945. The '45 squad went 5-3, the '46 squad finished 10-4, and in Russell's final season WSU went 6-7. During Russell's career Wayne won meets against Detroit, Westem Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Michigan, Ohio State and Bowling Green. In 1947 Wayne joined the MAC as a charter member, and WSU hosted the first-ever MAC Tennis Championship. Wayne finished second behind Cincinnati's 11 points with eight points. Russell teamed with Gurman to win the first-ever conference doubles title.
In '45 Russell teamed with Ryland at number one doubles. The Russell Ryland partnership produced a 6-2 record, and in singles play Russell finished with a 6-1 record. In '46 Russell went 9-4 in singles and 5-7 in doubles. Playing at number one singles in '47, he compiled a 9-4 singles record, and finished with an 8-5 doubles mark.
In the 1945 NCAA Men's Tennis National Championships, Russell advanced to the third round before being eliminated by Miami's (Fla). Pancho Segura. At the 1946 NCAA Nationals, Ryland was eliminated in the second round by Miami's (Fla.) Mark Brown.
Russell won the 1945 Detroit Public Parks Doubles Tide, the 1944 and 1945 American Tennis Association (ATA) Mixed Doubles Titles, and the 1944 Detroit CIO Singles and Doubles Titles. Russell and Gurman also won four straight 'Canadian Invitational Doubles Titles, and finished as runner-ups once in the Canadian Nationals Championship. Russell also won several singles and doubles tournament titles on the AT A Circuit. In 1951 Russell won the Caribbean Invitational Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles titles.
Russell transferred to WSU from Johnson C. Smith College (NC), and later returned to Smith to graduate with a B.A. in History and Social Science in 1954. Russell did not play competitive tennis until he attended Smith. At Detroit Northwestem HS he ran only cross country. Russell won two letters and a league championship in tennis at Smith. An injury forced him to return home in 1943, and he then started attending Wayne.
Russell returned to Detroit after graduation. In 1968, he was appointed the Detroit Police Deputy Commissioner for Communication Relations. During his tenure Russell developed the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL), a volunteer organization that provides recreational opportunities for young individuals. Russell has served as PAL's National Board as Executive Vice President.
Russell left the police department in 1976 to join Borman's as corporate director of security. He was also appointed by Gov. William Milliken to the position of Jury Commissioner for Wayne County Circuit Court, a position he still holds.
Russell founded his own company, Unified Marketing, an advertising specialty firm dealing primarily with the automotive industry.
Russell and his wife, Charlotte, reside in Detroit.
