Staff Spotlight: John Russell

Position: Sr. Program Director
Years with FP&C: 9
Years Working at Texas Tech: 9 TTUS, 13 ASU
Where did you grow up?
San Angelo, Texas
What did you do after graduating high school?
I attended Texas A&M and was in the Corps of Cadets and Cavalry. I left school for
a while and went back to ASU and graduated with a finance degree with a real estate
option.
What did you do before you became Sr. Program Director here at FP&C?
After college, I went to work with my father in the real estate and development business.
That is when I became heavily involved with construction and began a commercial construction
firm. This grew into two other businesses of Steel Erection and Pier Drilling. I
continued this until the economic downturn in the mid 1980’s. I moved to Dallas with
my wife, who was transferred there with GTE, and worked as a casework superintendent
and later moved back into the real estate and appraisal business due to the continued
decline in construction. We moved back to San Angelo in the early 1990’s to help
my father with his business. I got back into construction until I went to work at
ASU in 1999 to manage their construction.
What has been your favorite job/career?
I would have to say it was when I came to Tech and was the Sr. Director of Project
Administration and got to participate in all the projects. It was amazing to be part
of all the work that we have done here at FP&C.
What has been the coolest thing you’ve had the privilege of being a part of (life in general or on campus)?
I have raced motorcycles and cars many years of my life and have raced dragsters (7.9
seconds and 179 mph), circle track, and road courses. The most fun was running the
Las Vegas Road course in a Lamborghini and going 185 mph.
What are your hobbies?
I like to work on cars, teach handgun classes, and being outside.
If you would like to include anything about your family, please do so.
I have been happily married for many years to my high school sweetheart, have three
beautiful daughters, and four wonderful grandsons.