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Russell leaves living legacy
Donald B. Russell left his mark in life. That was the consensus of those who knew him in Nevada and Vernon County.
There wasn't much he wasn't involved with during his years in Nevada. His community and civic efforts touched virtually every aspect of the town and its citizens.
Born April 7, 1923, in Paola, Kan., Russell attended public schools in Holton, Kan., and in Bolivar, Mo., leaving an indelible impression and influencing him in later life with a pursuit of education and service.
With stints at Polk County Bank and service in the U.S. Navy, as well as furthering his education at Southwest Baptist College, Cornell University and the University of Missouri School of Law, he opened his law practice in Nevada in October 1949.
Son-in-law and law partner Bryan Breckenridge related a story about Russell being really a "frustrated architect/engineer," noting that Russell designed the house he lived in.
When he got out of the military, Russell went to the University of Missouri in Columbia to enroll in the engineering school, Breck-enridge recalled.
When he found all those classes were full, went to the law school and enrolled.
That started him on a path that would lead to years of public service.
His Nevada law firm grew and Russell became senior partner in the law firm of Russell, Brown and Breckenridge. He and the late Keith Brown were partners with his son-in-law. James R. Bickel was also a partner in the law firm before being elected circuit judge.
Russell was elected Vernon County prosecuting attorney in 1953.
His work in law was substantial.
"He was shrewd, quick to see advantages in cases, and a formidable opponent in court," recalled Janet Reed, who was Russell's paralegal for years.
"I never witnessed any but gentlemanly behavior, but if you were on the other side of a case, and he saw his advantage, he conquered the moment often before the other guy knew what had happened to him," she said.
Judge Bickel agreed, lauding Russell's ability in court and his understanding of the law.
The judge noted there were few who didn't know Russell or of his work in the profession.
"He was well known and well respected throughout the state in the legal and judicial community."
While the law defined his profession, Russell's service to the public and his fellow man were on display through First Baptist Church, as the founding member and a trustee of the Finis M. Moss Charitable Trust, as president of the Nevada School Board, as a member of the Nevada Area Economic Develop-ment Commission, as a member of the Crowder College Foundation and the Nevada Regional Medical Center Foundation, as a director and officer of Mid-Missouri Bancshares, and as chairman of the board of Farm and Home Savings Association.
Additionally, he was a member of the Nevada Rotary Club and was chosen Rotary Club Citizen of the Year in 1993. He was also a Paul Harris Fellow.
Reed, who later became administrator of the Moss Trust, said Russell's touch was felt not just in civic and government service but also in a very personal way.
"I knew Don since 1994 when he hired me to work for him at the law firm," she recalled.
"In 1998, I decided that I really needed to finish a college degree that I had begun before marrying and having children, but at the time, a commute was required. No online classes or bachelor's level programs were available.
"Don was probably my biggest cheerleader. He not only gave me time off every week to drive to Joplin for class, he adapted his calendar and changed the days and times I would be gone every semester.
"I followed up my bachelor's degree with a master's and spent an additional two years commuting to Pittsburg to earn that degree. I was working solely for the Trust then, but again, Don covered for me when I was out of town during business hours. I have never had an employer so willing to accommodate my self-improvement. There was no grudge ever about the many inconveniences he experienced because I was gone, Reed continued.
"I will always love and appreciate Don for making it possible for me to return to school and finish my education while I was working for him.
"Personally, his generosity to me is the greatest memory I have of him."
Judge Bickel shared similar views regarding Russell's personal interest and support.
"I went to work for him at the law firm but he was more than just an employer," Bickel said. "Donald was good to me and my family. He was more than happy to help us get acclimated and get introduced here in town.
"He did an awful lot of behind-the-scenes work to encourage people to take an interest in the community, in the schools and in city government," Bickel added.
"He knew when someone could add to the community and encouraged them to get involved. I was impressed with his love for the Nevada community."
Reed noted there are so many more things about Russell that she will remember.
"Don was never afraid to try something new or take up new ideas. He wanted Nevada to grow, and he thought new technology and better education would bring companies to Nevada. Sometimes the ideas worked, and sometimes they didn't, but he was never afraid to pursue them.
"One idea that many people thought was a bad idea but that has been hugely successful was Crowder College's satellite campus in Nevada. Everyone had become used to commuting to obtain an education, and when Crowder announced it was going to open a campus here, a lot of people were underwhelmed. Not Don.
"He got behind the effort, visited with Drs. Kent Farnsworth and Alan Marble about needs and demographics and possibilities, and supported grants that helped Crowder renovate its current location on the old state hospital grounds.
"Crowder started with just a handful of students but today has over 500 students attending classes in Nevada. Students with Crowder degrees work in every sector of the economy, and before Don's illness, he had grown really pleased with his initial involvement in the effort," said Reed.
"He also served for eight years on Crowder's Foun-dation board and helped cement the relationship between Crowder and Nevada."
Pam Hudson, director of development and grants with the Crowder College Foundation, recalled his impact on the college.
"Don Russell's contributions were invaluable in getting the Crowder College campus in Nevada," Hudson said. "He helped us to secure the appropriate location, helped us to navigate through all of the political and legal matters, as well as helped us to secure strong state and local financial support that in the end, allowed us to open the doors.
"I think it is not an exaggeration to say that without Don Russell, Crowder College certainly would not be where we are today.
"And I suppose we might not even be in Nevada. Crowder College-Nevada owes a great debt of gratitude to Mr. Russell. He was a true champion of equal opportunity for higher education for his community."
Yet there's more, said Reed.
"One of the ideas he embraced that did not ultimately become successful was Acorn Televillage. In hindsight, the televillage concept was probably outmoded in the states by the time the attempt was made. Yet for us in Nevada, Don thought the idea of a wired community that would allow people to work from home would draw all kinds of new people to the area.
"He spent countless hours trying to aid those establishing the concept, and I think he was the last guy to give up on it. He was nearing 80 when the idea was presented to him. He didn't know how to use a computer, but he wasn't afraid of a new idea.
"The funniest and most frustrating story involved trying to teach Don how to use email," Reed said. "Once everyone at the office, his family, and all his friends starting communicating by email, Don decided he was going to get a laptop and set himself up with an account. He shopped for a laptop for a long time and finally purchased one.
"I agreed to teach him how to use it. So one Saturday morning he brought his laptop over and we sat on the floor and went through the setup and procedure for getting and sending messages. I assured him we would progress to attaching pictures as soon as he felt comfortable sending email.
"After about an hour, he successfully sent his first email, and the smile on his face was priceless. We were both proud," Reed continued. "He hadn't been home two hours, though, before he called with questions. We started over three or four times, and finally, Don decided that handwritten letters or telephone calls were better. He tried though, and he was well into his 80s then.
One trait that clearly impressed Reed was how hard Russell worked.
"He was a creative worker, too," she said. "I guess in some ways this trait connects to the previous one because he was never locked into a method that could not be broken.
"Often, he would start exploring a new case or problem by retrieving all his old files on similar subjects, taking them apart, and reorganizing materials to fit the new issue. Once he got started on a solving a problem, he worked tenaciously --- sometimes all night -- until he had a clear understanding of how to proceed.
Reed said many mornings, she arrived at the office only to discover Russell had been there "literally all night" and had gone home to clean up for a new day not long before staff arrived.
Most important though she said, Russell was a good friend.
"If Don Russell believed in you, you couldn't find a better friend," Reed said. "He was generous to a fault, and like I told you about my education, he could make doors open and get things done that at first glance felt impossible.
"He was also quick to give others credit for successes. I've seen him many times give credit to others and stand back truly pleased at the outcome he largely created."