I've been sitting on this post not knowing exactly what to say. I met him twice. First time I was with my boss, only a few years older than me, who had worked for RC. ca. 1971. Russ was on the floor of a new shop, painting the woodwork. When he finished a strip, he took us to dinner. It was a Denny's type of place. I was 18 and my only concern was that I got a free dinner. I didn't know.
Many years later I met him again at the Cinncy Dealer Show. Got an autographed photo. The ubiquitous one, cigar, white suit and medalion, holding a header. He was wearing the same get up. Medallion might have been a Kruggerand.
Man, this chokes me up. My sympathies to all.
Ron