JAMES RUSSELL CN AGENT Gulfport/Biloxi James Russell, CSS, retired Dec. 28 after 41 years of service. J. R. Started with Central Airlines and worked for Southern, Republic and Northwest. A retirement party will be held Feb. 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Gulfport/Biloxi Airport conference room. All are invited to attend. Lunch will be served. Please R.S.V.P. by calling (228) 214-5190. ********* MY BEST FRIEND ‘JR’ July 02,2002 On June 09, 2002 I lost a very dear friend named James Seth Russell, and our airline family lost a treasure. I met this man in 1963 when we worked for Southern Airways, an upstart airline of the late forties. He actually started with another upstart airline in Oklahoma; Central Airlines, after attending “Weaver Airline School.” Not many of those grads in the industry today. The men who started airlines during that time were men of vision, and in some cases men of little means, but they had a vision, and saw the future of aviation. James and I grew with this small airline that became Republic and than Northwest. For some reason, long forgotten, I chose to call James “JR” for short. That name stuck, and that is what most everyone called him. We became close friends as well as co-workers. There were some years that we worked apart but we always stayed in touch. We worked together most of our career, surviving mergers, pay cuts, loss of jobs, strikes, and near strikes, and just about anything else the industry could throw at us. This bonded our friendship even more, and we were always there for each other. Our families also bonded, and we went on many flying and car trips together. We enjoyed the good times and worked through the rougher times and everything was good for many years. Then, in September 2001, something happened that changed our lives forever. This was the month that 9/11 happened and also the time that we found out that JR had cancer. The month started with a two week road trip out west with our wives, Faye, and Janice. We planned the trip for a year and it was to celebrate JR’s upcoming retirement. The second day into our trip 9/11 happened and while trying to see the sights of Rushmore, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon, we were glued to the television at night trying to get an update to what was going on in New York, and Washington. Only when we got back did we find out about the cancer. We could not know at that time that our dear friends would be living the most difficult time of their lives over the next eight months. We helped when we could and called every day to lend our support. JR was always upbeat and asked about our health and our jobs and our girls. We went to see him in the hospital and in his home. We sat with him and talked. We tried to help him any way we could. His sons and their wives, and their sons were there. The friends were there, giving back to this man who always gave first. Janice was there, and her love and devotion to JR was a wonderful thing to witness. The time we all dreaded came on June 09, 2002. The service was held and old friends and new friends were there. He was a lighthouse in life and in death. His bright light was a beacon to all who knew him. He and Janice always had a house full. Their house had an open door policy, and all the people came, friends, relatives, and friends of relatives. There were old airlines buddies and peers from the present. The eulogy was given, and the people who spoke knew the same JR that I knew. A great family man, a spiritual man, a loyal man, and a man who will not be forgotten. In the many conversations that took place before and after the service, I kept hearing the word “friend.” That inspired me to put down in words my feelings for this great “friend”. I WILL HAVE A SPECIAL THOUGHT OF JR WHEN I: See an airplane Airplanes played such a big part of our lives both at work and play. See a tractor He loved to work the land and driving his tractor was to him, like playing golf or fishing. Play golf He did not play the game, but always asked me about my game. He loved to Watch the pros play on television. See a mountain We sat and talked some nights all night long on a mountain top. Two weeks before he died he told me he wanted to come to the mountains soon. Go to church JR was a spiritual man and he loved his Lord. He could not sing a note, but enjoyed hearing others. Watch a western movie He loved the west and we made that special trip which will live forever in our minds. Drive my van He and I bought the same van, make, model, and color in 1995. I don’t know why, we just did. See a sunrise He and I sat many mornings in the mountains and had that first cup of coffee as the sun came over the hill. See a father and son He was a real man to his sons and you can see him in them. Laugh What a sense of humor. He always had a joke or a funny story to tell. Rake leaves in the fall One year when I had major surgery, he was at my door with rake in hand. He also came and raked even when I got well. He just loved this task. Go out on a cool morning to get the paper He loved the mountain air early in the morning. I think having a friend like JR was special. It is said that many people collect things, rocks, baseball cards, or other material things. JR and Janice collect friends. I am very thankful that my family and I were and are a part of that collection. L.S. (Bob) Sansing Retired, 1962-2000 February 8, 2002 Newswire -http://www.southernairways.org/news_events.htm (6/23/04) JAMES S RUSSELL Born 24 Oct 1939 Died 09 Jun 2002 Age 62 At 39482 (Sumrall, Lamar, MS) SSN isued in Mississippi (6/24/04)