On December 30, 2021, Ray Russell passed away at the age of 94. Many current JAHS students did not have the pleasure of knowing him personally, but all have felt his lasting impact. He is most recently known for his donation of the digital announcement board at the front of the school. Russell had a great impact on the teachers and staff of JAHS especially. 

Russell was a teacher for 40 years at Alder. He taught science at the old elementary school, and some of our staff were fortunate enough to have him as an educator. One of these teachers was Wendy Hall, who fondly remembers Russell’s teaching style and the impact it continues to have on her. 

“He is one the first teachers I remember telling stories as he taught, using sarcasm and humor,” Hall writes. “Those memories do impact my teaching today.”

On top of his lengthy teaching career, Russell was also a coach for 50 years. He coached many sports, but his primary focus was cross country and track and field. This dedication to the sport led to Russell gaining the position of treasurer in the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches (OATCCC), which he held for 29 years. Russell was previously commemorated with a cross country invitational meet named after him. Tonya Grove, the Assistant Treasurer for the district, remembers Russell’s dedication to his athletes.

“As a cross-country coach — I remember him coming into the cafeteria to ask us to save the drained juice from the canned fruit we were serving for lunch,” Grove writes. “He used that juice for his cross country athletes….I will always think of Mr. Russell with a great deal of fondness for his endless commitment to our district and community.”

Russell’s family had a small ceremony following his passing, but a larger community celebration will be held May 22, 2022. The ceremony will take place at Plain City Presbyterian Church, and all are welcome. Russell was a light in the Plain City and Jonathan Alder community, and will not be soon forgotten. His legacy will be felt for a long time, and all are grateful for his contributions.

“I will remember and honor him along with so many in this community where he lived and raised his family,” writes Denise English, the Student Services Administrator at JAHS. ”I am positive that his name pops up often when people reminisce about their youth. He’s one of those ‘legends’ of [Plain City] forever…gone but not forgotten.”