Johny Brown Russell

Johny Brown Russell, PhD age 85, of Murray, KY, passed away Monday, October 18, 2010, at 12:30 p.m. at the Murray-Calloway County Hospital. Dr. Russell was born in Isley, KY on December 4, 1924 to the late Ottaway Beckham Russell and Constance Ann Brown Russell.
Dr. Russell retired from Boeing Aircraft Co. based in Seattle, Washington, as a nuclear physicist. While with Boeing, Dr. Russell worked on many classified government projects including the B1 bomber and for NASA, the Lunar Land Rover (LRV) which the Apollo 15 astronauts used to travel on the moon. Dr. Russell was an army veteran of WWII and a member of the First Methodist Church in Murray. Dr. Russell a 1948 graduate in Physics and Math from Murray State University, and went on to receive his Master’s of Arts in 1950, also while at Murray State University. Dr. Russell was presented an Honorary Doctorate by Murray State University in 2007. In 2008 the Engineering Standards Laboratory at Murray State University was named in honor of Dr. Johny B. Russell in which now is The Johny B. Russell Engineering Standards Laboratory. Also in 2008 he was honored with the Outstanding Alumnus of Kentucky (OAK) Award. Dr. Russell has generously donated over $1.2 million (gift annuity) to Murray State University and has planned a gift from his estate in the amount of $900,000 to be left with Murray State University. These gifts will be used for the purpose of promoting the education of students at Murray State University through the establishment of the following: - Excellence in Engineering Physics Endowment to assist with needed equipment and programs in this department, as well as to assist with the “Moon Buggy” competition. - Johny B. Russell Endowed Scholarship to be awarded first to students in the Department of Engineering Physics and secondarily to students in the CSET. –Excellence in Telecommunications Systems Management Endowment to assist with the needed equipment and programs in this department, as well as to assist with the CyberCave learning laboratory. –

Charlotte E. Russell Endowed Scholarship to be awarded to students in the College of Health Sciences and Human Services. –An unrestricted Murray Fund for Excellence Endowment. –A display area in the Wrather Museum for the Johny B. Russell Collection.
In addition to his parents, Dr. Russell was preceded in death by his wife, Charlotte Elizabeth McNeely Russell, who died in 2007; three still born sons; one sister; Emma Jane Russell Trzcinski; and one brother, Harry Louis Russell.
Dr. Russell is survived by three nieces, Patsy Russell of Murray, KY; Brenda Russell of Texas and Theresa Trzcinski of Chicago; one nephew, Michael Russell of Murray, KY; Dr. Russell’s caregivers, Denise Boaz of Murray, Belinda Kyznar of Paris Landing, TN, Heather McPhearson of Symsonia, KY, and Angela Williams of Murray, KY.
Graveside services will be held Friday, October 22, 2010 at the Wesley Cemetery in Fulton ,KY at 11:00 a.m., with Bro. Jim Stahler officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., Thursday, October 21, 2010 at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Johny B. Russell Endowed Scholarship, Murray State University, Office of Development, 106 Development Center, Murray, KY 42071 -3313.