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Roll Call Tribute
James Russell July 6, 2011 3:43 PM
Published in The Bryan-College Station Eagle from July 6 to July 7, 2011
James E. (Jim) Russell
May 20, 1940 - July 3, 2011
Dr. James E. "Jim" Russell, Professor Emeritus of Texas A&M University, passed away Sunday, July 3, 2011. He was born in Rapid City, S. Dakota on May 20, 1940 to Lester and Veronica Russell. Dr. Russell received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in 1963 and his Master of Science in Civil Engineering in 1964. Dr. Russell earned his Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Northwestern University in 1966.
Jim graduated from Cathedral High School in Rapid City, and went on to receive his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in 1963 followed by his Master of Science in Civil Engineering in 1964 at the same institution. Dr. Russell earned his Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Northwestern University in 1966.
His distinguished career included work for the Office of Waste Isolation, Union Carbide Corporation Nuclear Division; 8 years as Executive Vice President of RE/SPEC Inc., South Dakota; 10 years as Professor of Civil and later Mining Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; and one year as Senior Research Engineer, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas. He has also served as a consultant to several major corporations and national laboratories.
Dr. Russell began with the Petroleum Engineering Department in 1978, serving as Head of Petroleum Engineering from 1992 to 1996. During his term as head, the department established its first Industry Advisory Board, initiated first Capital Development Campaign, and was ranked number 1 in the nation in graduate programs by U.S. News and World Report and in undergraduate programs by The Gourman Report. Dr. Russell was named Centennial 100 Alumni by South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in March 1985.
Jim had an inquiring mind and thoroughly enjoyed researching projects that interested him. He loved teaching and especially working with the students and other faculty members. He was a very humble man and treated everyone with respect. The most important aspects of Jim's life were his family and friends.
On June 1, 1963 Jim married the love of his life, Judith Ann Halverson, and they remained married forty-eight years until his passing. Dr. Russell was preceded in death by his parents, Lester Russell and Veronica Russell Heller, step-father Henry Heller and brother Jack Russell. Survivors include his wife, Judy, of College Station, sons Michael of Winterset, Iowa, and Mark Russell and wife Tobi of College Station, three grandchildren, Afton and Madelyn Russell and Justin McClung and one great granddaughter, Kambree Nicole, as well as his brother Richard Russell of Lafayette, California.
Visitation will be on Thursday, July 7 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, with a vigil service at 6 pm and the Mass of Christian Funerals will be held the following day, July 8, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in College Station, followed by internment at Municipal Memorial Cemetery in College Station.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to The Alzheimer's Association , The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Foundation, the Texas A&M Foundation, or to the charity of one's choice.
Jim's family would especially like to express our deepest gratitude to our Hudson Creek family, the doctors and nurses at the Med in College Station, and Texas Home Health Hospice.
Condolences can made at www.memorialfuneralchapel.com
James E. (Jim) Russell
May 20, 1940 - July 3, 2011
Dr. James E. "Jim" Russell, Professor Emeritus of Texas A&M University, passed away Sunday, July 3, 2011. He was born in Rapid City, S. Dakota on May 20, 1940 to Lester and Veronica Russell. Dr. Russell received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in 1963 and his Master of Science in Civil Engineering in 1964. Dr. Russell earned his Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Northwestern University in 1966.
Jim graduated from Cathedral High School in Rapid City, and went on to receive his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in 1963 followed by his Master of Science in Civil Engineering in 1964 at the same institution. Dr. Russell earned his Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Northwestern University in 1966.
His distinguished career included work for the Office of Waste Isolation, Union Carbide Corporation Nuclear Division; 8 years as Executive Vice President of RE/SPEC Inc., South Dakota; 10 years as Professor of Civil and later Mining Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; and one year as Senior Research Engineer, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas. He has also served as a consultant to several major corporations and national laboratories.
Dr. Russell began with the Petroleum Engineering Department in 1978, serving as Head of Petroleum Engineering from 1992 to 1996. During his term as head, the department established its first Industry Advisory Board, initiated first Capital Development Campaign, and was ranked number 1 in the nation in graduate programs by U.S. News and World Report and in undergraduate programs by The Gourman Report. Dr. Russell was named Centennial 100 Alumni by South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in March 1985.
Jim had an inquiring mind and thoroughly enjoyed researching projects that interested him. He loved teaching and especially working with the students and other faculty members. He was a very humble man and treated everyone with respect. The most important aspects of Jim's life were his family and friends.
On June 1, 1963 Jim married the love of his life, Judith Ann Halverson, and they remained married forty-eight years until his passing. Dr. Russell was preceded in death by his parents, Lester Russell and Veronica Russell Heller, step-father Henry Heller and brother Jack Russell. Survivors include his wife, Judy, of College Station, sons Michael of Winterset, Iowa, and Mark Russell and wife Tobi of College Station, three grandchildren, Afton and Madelyn Russell and Justin McClung and one great granddaughter, Kambree Nicole, as well as his brother Richard Russell of Lafayette, California.
Visitation will be on Thursday, July 7 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, with a vigil service at 6 pm and the Mass of Christian Funerals will be held the following day, July 8, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in College Station, followed by internment at Municipal Memorial Cemetery in College Station.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to The Alzheimer's Association , The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Foundation, the Texas A&M Foundation, or to the charity of one's choice.
Jim's family would especially like to express our deepest gratitude to our Hudson Creek family, the doctors and nurses at the Med in College Station, and Texas Home Health Hospice.
Condolences can made at www.memorialfuneralchapel.com
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