Buddy Russ: a name, face, laugh, and personality that we will all remember forever. Russ was bigger than life; there was no doubt in my mind about that.
Many of us were brought to the radio every afternoon to hear "Our Buddy Russ" bring us home after a long day at work or school. The story is similar for me. In March of 2019, I was in the midst of my spring semester at McNeese State University. At the time, I was working part-time doing sports and on-air work back home at KVVP radio in Leesville. I was a commuter, and each day I would get out of class just in time to listen to Russ on the way home. A few days and weeks went by, and the more I listened, the more I loved "Buddy Russ".

One day, I got a wild hair and decided to message Russ on Facebook. From there, we chatted like two 16-year-old girls telling gossip to their best friends. We both had the typical selfie in front of a microphone profile picture that SCREAMS " I DO RADIO". After time went by that day, we figured out that Russ and I have just about the same story in this game. I grew up listening to sports on the radio and wanting to be like guys such as Jim Hawthorne, Rick Barnickle, and the list goes on. The same way for Russ, except he used to have "KRUS Radio," where he would practice coming in and out of breaks. *in your biggest Buddy Russ voice* "THAT WAS ALABAMA ON KRUS RADIO"

Over the years, Russ and I became closer through days of being on the radio together, attending major festivals, or just texting back and forth to visit or check up on each other during tough times. We can all agree that Russ Conrad affected everyone he came into contact with, most of them for the better. No matter the situation, he could always make the most of it and make you laugh. Russ truly was and always will be one of my greatest friends and mentors.

Your Buddy Russ Tries to Trim a Dog's Nails

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