Theron D (Terry) Provance

I would like to extend my sympathies to the family and relatives of Jim Russell as today is the 50th Commemoration Anniversary of the National Guard killings at Kent State on May 4, 1970.  Having just watched the KSU program on line, I remembered again that Jim was one of the nine students wounded while four others were murdered.  I would have liked to thank him for his anti-war commitment and sacrifice.  Having spent my life doing peace and justice work, I have tremendous appreciation for his courage.  I also knew Arthur Krause, father of Allison, one of the four killed that day, pretty well and he spoke at a May 4, 1973 commemoration event I organized in Pittsburgh.  I wish I had been in touch with Jim at that time.   During these trying times, to all, I hope for your safety and good health.  Terry Provance

Al Whitehouse

May 4, 1970, I was on the reverse side of the "hill" shortly after the guardsmen had retreated.  Coming in my direction hurriedly was a limping Jim Russell.  I asked him if he needled help but he refused and continued his route of travel near the gym.  Two guardsmen came out of the gym, took him by the arms and escorted hm into the gym.  That was the last time that I saw Jim, ever.  I received word in 2007 that he had passed away and reported the death to the class website.                           (Note:  The Class of '65 website is apolitical and does not welcome political sentiments of any kind.  Please refrain from expressing views from any part of the political spectrum.  Thank you.)

Kay Thomas (Hoagland)

One does have to be respectful of the fact that many of our classmates did serve honorably in VietNam. Several gave their lives and many were injured physically and mentally. This is not a website to discuss the rights and wrongs of that war. Even the events at Kent State can be interpreted many ways even as we look back over the 50 years. There has been a very good summary of then events published in the Columbus Dispatch newspaper over that last week or so. It's worth a read if you can access it. One does have to remember that some of these "kids" were not protesting, but just happened to be walking to class that particular day at that particular time. 

Richard C Pierce

Jim Russell and I were good friends through our junior high and senior high school days.  If nothing else he was entertaining.  I listened to him talk about his  crushs on the girls, of which he had many.  Most went unnoticed by the focus of his attention.  He would sing the Beach Boys "Barbara Ann" daily as we walked to school every morning on Greenhurst Dr. and pasted Barbara's house.  He talked me into driving him to Shagrin Falls, Ohio to see Janet Jamison one Saturday.  He neglected to tell her we were coming.  She was out for day.  I was with him when he was running and tripped stabbing himself in the shoulder with a sharpened pencil.  I was living in Columbus, Ohio when he was shot at Kent State.  He was shot in the leg and had a pellet (he told me it was bird shot ) lodged under the skin above his one ear.  He was taken to the local hospital for treatment, when federal agents appeared onsite.  An orderly, escorted Jim to an exit to avoid any situation that might present itself.  Jim made his way to my place in Columbus where he stayed for a few days.  He was headed to the Dakotas for the annual motorcycle rally and wanted me to travel with him.  I was working and unable to go.  I also lost track of Jim.  Sue Devlin was kind enough to let me know of Jim's life and his passing.  Through this website,  Spence Wells, Eric Peterson and I reconnected.  Eric told me by chance he ran into Jim years ago in Oregon.  They were both living there about 50 miles apart.  I regret losing track of Jim.  I am grateful for the time we shared.      

Spencer T Wells

Thanks to all who offered rememberances of Jim Russell. Every May 4th, Janet (Lohse 1966) and I remember Jim and the other Kent State wounded and killed. It was a landmark in our lives together. Several days after the shooting, Jim showed up on our doorstep in Cleveland. He had ducked out of the hospital against MD orders and hitched to Cleveland to avoid having a discussion with law enforcement. He stayed a couple days, recuperating and remembering our times together in Mt. Lebo. (Rick Pierce's recollection of singing "Barbara Ann" was like a flashback). Jim lived 2 doors down from Janet on Clemson Drive and he was one of a bunch of guys who ran together at Jefferson and later the High School: Rick Pierce, Don Dashiell, Eric Peterson, Jim, me and others lost in the mists of memory. After a week or so Jim got an apartment nearby (he was never clear about where exactly--still a little paranoid), but by the Fall he moved on to the Pacific Northwest. After that summer, Jim would stop in to say hi when he was in NE Ohio for a Kent State reunion. Eric Peterson saw more of Jim after Eric moved to Portland and gave us periodic updates when he was traveling through town. A good friend, changed by his encounter with history, who left us too soon.  Thanks, Jim, for the memories.

Nancy Weiss (Swanson)

Jim was one of the guys on our bus at that end of Bower Hill Road.  When I moved to Cleveland in 1969 to take a teaching job after graduating from Chatham, who knew I would run into Jim Russell.  Jim was at Kent with a Cleveland teaching friend and he passed through Cleveland now and then.  I saw Jim both before and after the events in 1970.  To say that he was a changed man doesn't really cover the territory.  The paranoia was evident immediately - who could blame him.  I never saw Jim after the early 70's.  RIP old friend.

My husband's oldest brother Greg and his sister Paula were both students at Kent State at that time.  Greg and my husband, Neil (who was in 8th grade at that time) went to campus the day after the armory was bombed to see if they could be of help with some of the cleanup.  Greg parked his car on a side street.  Later in the day, the car was bombed.  That day changed Greg's life, not for the better.  Greg committed suicide a few years ago.

The ripples that emanate from Kent State seem to be never-ending.  As I've aged I find that I usually have more questions than answers.  I hope that Jim found some peace in his life.  Clearly, he had good friends who cared about him.

Alan Rappaport

I've noticed that Terry Provance's moving and heartfelt rememberances regarding Jim Russell and the terrifying events at Kent State have been edited with a heavy hand and essentially censored. Who has determined that Mt. Lebanon 1965 is an "apolitical" site? How are judgments vis a vis content made? Who makes these judgments? Are these persons or person part of the current administration? Will William Barr pursue violations through the Department of Justice? Are we subject to censure as well as censorhip? Can we be prosecuted? Persecuted? How are disputes arbitrated? Will we be imprisoned? At the HIgh School? In the boiler room? Are we entitled to one phone call? May we have a lawyer present? Any idea how offensive this is?

Robert C Fitzwilson

A couple of hundred years ago, an Englishman was quoted as saying "There is 5% we can't do, 5% we should not do, and the rest is manners".

I was actually pleased that someone tried to cut off the political comments.  Everyone has their opinion, but this is not the forum for expressing them.  Silence does not equate to agreement with the comments.  It is just good manners.  Certainly when it comes to a thread involving someone's death.

I will be leaving the forum, so no need to lash back.  Never get into a battle of wits with an unarmed man as they say.

For the rest of the classmates, have a fabulous reunion!

Bob

Nancy E Ross (Ramirez-Lenihan)