Just found out that Russ passed away. He went by Racer on here. Russ was well known in Ohio and was always a big help at the convention. He will be sorely missed. He was a great guy and a very good trapper and a great representative of trappers and trapping.

R.I.P. Russ

Russ and I trapped in Mississippi one year. Great guy REST In PEACE Russ.

Rest in Peace, Russ .

Russ was President of the Osta in the mid 60s. Our conventions were one day events back then on a Sunday. He lived close to where the conventions were held every year. He and his wife would cook a ham for everyone for sandwiches. It got to the point where everyone depended on his lunches so much, that one year he wasn’t able to make the usual convention weekend date. So the members changed the convention to the next weekend. Years later he would step up and serve as a District Director for several years. Rip Russ.

I always enjoyed talking with him at conventions. Rest in peace Russ.

Sorry to hear this. Russ always shook my hand and gave me a hug when I came through the gate at the convention. He had a great run.

I haven't seen in for a number of years but it seemed like yesterday. He always had a smile and handshake for everyone. Just a one of a kind person. RIP Russ.

Hate to hear this. Good man. RIP Russ.

Heck of a guy. First met him at NTA eastern in Tenn. years ago. Him and Bob were trying to sell me the slide in camper they had in their truck.
Always met you with a smile and a handshake. Going to miss him around the campfires listening to his stories.
R.I.P. Russ.

Russ

Russ was definitely a dedicated person.

At the NTA in Lima we had the first gate shift opening at midnight on Thursday. Russ insisted on being there it was a fun shift.

Very sorry to hear this.

Russ came out to Montana and rode on the Trapline with me for a few days years ago, after winning a sweepstakes drawing with Trapper & PC

What a great time we had, and I would put Russ in the class of one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met.

We saw him at NTA in Lima and he’d call and visit once in awhile

One of my all time favorites

RIP my friend

My condolences to all his family and friends.

Sounds like he was a well respected trapper plus an ambassador for our interests. RIP and fair winds in the great beyond!

Chris

Russ was a great Man. A true ambassador to us trappers. I got to meet him many years ago.
When we started bringing our grandson to the OSTA conventions as a baby. Russ took right too him. Every year Russ had a trap for him. A hand shake and hug. We looked forward to seeing him at every convention. Banquet or Trappers Meet.Then one year as we got to the convention he told me that he had earned enough hours for a life membership. And he was donating it to my grandson. That brought a real tear to my eye.
And today is very hard for this family. We will always remember Russ and be Thankful for everything he did. You will never be forgotten. Rest in peace till we see each other again. Don. Chris and Nicolas.

Russ and I got to spend some time together occasionally. I rode out to Ron Leggett's with him and we went on Ron's fox trapline for a few days. We both had a great time while there with Ron and Betty.

Russ asked to go on my mink trapline and we finally got together one day when our schedules lined up. We still laughed about that day every time one of us would bring it up. At the one location, beaver had the creek dammed up, and the water was probably about 4 feet deep where I had one of my sets. I had it along a shallow shelf and the water dropped off fast just past the shelf. On this particular day I had caught a good sized beaver in my 1 1/2 coil. I was clinging to the bank waiting for the beaver to surface when Russ slipped and came down the bank right into me. He almost knocked me into the deep water. He was laughing while apologizing as he tried to get up. He no more than got to the top of the bank when he slipped again and fell into me again just as the beaver surfaced. I struggled to maintain my balance and not get bitten by the beaver at the same time. I accused Russ of trying to drown me. He finally made it safely to the top of the bank and I took care of the beaver. I don't remember much else from that day but I just remember having a good time with Russ.

Russ and I are checking traps. And we are driving to most sets and are in most cases 20 yards from the set. And every time we got out of his truck, he locked it. We are driving in town, and this woman honks her horn and gestures at us. I say to Russ do you know that women? He said that he didn't. She had her thumb and fore finger together and she kept opening and closing them. I said she seems to be indicating something related to size. She was indicating we had a low tire on the trailer. We had a good laugh over that.