Bill Russell was born in 1937 in Marion, VA, and lived there until he entered college at Virginia Tech. Money was tight on the home front and in order for his younger brother to enter college, Bill dropped out of college for a year. He worked that year at Brunswick Corp saving enough to return to college the following year.
In 1960, Bill graduated with a Business Administration Degree. He then joined the Navy and reported immediately to his ship, a destroyer, in Norfolk. This is where he also met his wife-to-be, Nancy. His entire 3+ years were spent on the same ship as a 2nd electronics and communications officer. A few of his military experiences included escorting Vice President Lyndon Johnson and Lady Bird on a trip to Finland; being on the ship which followed alongside the Marines to Cuba during the Cuban Crisis; being on one of the ships that was deployed to retrieve the capsule when the first astronauts returned from the Moon; and being air-lifted from one ship to another on a high line chair in the middle of the ocean.
After his time in the Navy, Bill married Nancy, and they moved to Marion where Bill worked at Brunswick once again as a cost accountant. After 2 years, he joined Sears as a controller. This job change took them first to Danville, VA, where his son Bryant was born; then to Rock Hill, SC where his daughter Elizabeth was born. They later moved to Greensboro, NC where they lived for 10 years before moving once again to Atlanta for 7 years. In 1989 they moved to Johnson City where he was the General Manager for the Sears Catalog Center. In 1993 Sears exited the catalog business and he took early retirement. Not missing a beat, he became the General Manager for Finger Hut, the company that bought out the Sears Catalog Center. He retired a second time in 1999.
Bill was involved in many community organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce and the board of the Johnson City Symphony. Bill was, and still is, an active member of First Baptist Church. After retirement he and Nancy traveled worldwide to Ireland, France, Australia, New Zealand, China, Vienna, Turkey, and more, and have many wonderful memories of these trips.
Bill is also an artist. He took up oil painting with a group of men at his church (they called themselves The Silver Brushes!) They would gather to paint and tell tall tales. He is also a very talented storyteller and writer, having written an autobiography. The book is filled with humorous everyday events written in a style that is authentic and very readable, keeping you laughing and engaged.
Bill and Nancy moved into Everlan of Johnson City in October 2022. He remains involved in the local community and enjoys being a part of the many social activities at Everlan.
