For more information on sentiments, visitation, Celebration of Life (April 30) and the Russell D. Anderson Memorial Fund, please click here or visit www.ConferenceUSA.com/RDA.

DALLAS – Conference USA is mourning the loss of longtime Assistant Commissioner Russell Anderson, who passed away suddenly over the weekend at the age of 50. Anderson had recently been honored by his colleagues for 25 years of service with the league.
 
“Russ will always be a treasured member of the Conference USA family. He genuinely cared for those he worked with from colleagues to coaches to teams,” C-USA Commissioner Judy MacLeod said. “His knowledge and pride in all things C-USA was unmatched and his passion and dedication was evident in all he did. Russ will truly be missed.”
 
Anderson promoted Conference USA since its formation in 1995, primarily working as media relations contact for the league’s football and baseball programs. In addition to media relations responsibilities, Anderson worked with baseball and football scheduling, officiating, served as a liaison to the football and baseball coaches and was a member of the C-USA Hall of Fame Committee. Among the staff, Anderson was affectionately known as a walking encyclopedia of Conference USA facts, figures and history.

Anderson was actively involved with the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) since 1996, and was the organization’s Associate Executive Director at the time of his passing. He received the NCBWA’s Wilbur Snypp Award in 2002 for his outstanding contributions to college baseball.

During his career, he served on the media relations staffs for countless NCAA postseason regional, national and championship events, College Football Playoff championship games, bowl games, as well as freelance work with the NFL's New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks.

A native of Downers Grove, Ill., Anderson was a graduate of North Central College and a former intern at the Great Midwest Conference. A die-hard Chicago White Sox fan, he once said that his greatest moment in sports was being at game four of the 2005 World Series in Houston to watch his beloved team win their first World Series in 88 years.

Everyone that worked or came into contact with him recognized his passion for sports and the job he did, his dedication and contributions to Conference USA and his tremendous work ethic. He was respected among his peers, a friend and mentor to many, and he will be missed by those who had the pleasure of knowing or working with him over the years.

Anderson is survived by his sister Mary (David) Basek, his brother William (Kim) Pieper and his nephews Chris (Jacki) Valdez, David Valdez and Mike Valdez.