Russ Anderson, the NCBWA's Associate Executive Director and an
assistant commissioner and 25-year veteran at Conference USA, passed
away unexpectedly over the weekend. The 2002 Wilbur Snypp Award winner,
stalwart publicist and lover of all things baseball, is remembered
by two of his colleagues from the association today:
NCBWA Executive Director Bo Carter:
The memories of Russ Anderson are too numerous and too wonderful
to get on a couple of pages of a tribute to him. He thoroughly enjoyed
working at the NCAA World Series every year from 1998-2019 before
COVID-19 canceled 2020 college baseball. He had a penchant for great
Omaha steaks, he was one of the best persons with regard to travel
and accommodations I ever met, and he treated all people with utmost
respect. When you needed something done or a solution to a certain
challenge, Russ was the voice of reason. I cannot think of a better
all-around great guy with college baseball, the bowls, NCAA events
and so many aspects of college and conference athletics. He was
so great in making arrangements for trips and events, we named his
expertise RDA Travel. He knew his way around virtually every airport
in the country.
NCBWA Associate Executive Director Mike Montoro:
I met Russ in 2000 when I first started as the director of media
relations at Southern Miss. He was one of the first phone calls
I received to welcome me to Southern Miss and to the league. Our
friendship and professional relationship grew tremendously from
there. We've had many conversations over the years, but you can
count on them revolving around or always coming back to baseball,
football and eating! The order was determined by the place and the
conversation. Russ recruited me to join the NCBWA board in 2002
and from there, I worked with an outstanding professional who couldn't
be outworked or who couldn't display more passion for college baseball
than he. Russ had a lot of friends and made a tremendous impact
on even more. He has left a legacy that is unmatched, and he will
be missed tremendously. The NCBWA, Conference USA, and especially
his friends and colleagues, lost an all-time great!
Related link: •
Tribute from Conference USA
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