Dr. Fritz J. Russ Correspondence (SC-333)

Fritz J. Russ was born on September 23, 1920, in Jackson County, Ohio. He graduated from Ohio University in 1942 with a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Following graduation, from 1942 until 1946, Russ worked at the Naval Research Laboratory near Washington, DC. From 1946 to 1948, he worked for Industrial Research Laboratories. Russ came to work at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in December 1948, as a research and development engineer in the Gun Laying Equipment department, and continued in that position until November 1949. He was Chief of the Fire Control Test Unit in the Armament Laboratory at WPAFB from November 1949 until November 1950. Then, from November 1950 until 1955, he was Chief of the Missile Guidance and Control Group, Air Technical Intelligence Center, at WPAFB. In 1955, he left federal employment to start his own company Systems Research Laboratory. Fritz Russ was extremely successful, and he and his wife Dolores were great philanthropists, making large contributions to Wright State University, Ohio University, and other institutions and causes. Fritz Russ was awarded an honorary Doctorate of engineering degree in 1975 by his alma mater Ohio University. He died on Fritz Russ died on November 3, 2004, at the age of 84.