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.