Russ Chapelle dies at 87

His voice was well known to a whole generation in Tuscaloosa.

In the 1960s, he was on the air at WTBC and WJRD in Tuscaloosa during the Golden Age of AM radio.

He was the voice of Tuscaloosa County High School football and basketball games for over 20 years.

Oren “Russ” Russell Chappell, Sr., died July 1 at DCH Regional Medical Center. He was 87 years old.

Born in Pine Apple and raised in nearby Greenville, Russ graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in broadcasting in 1958, the same year coach Paul “Bear” Bryant showed up on campus.

Russ began his career as a host at WTBC and WJRD, two AM radio heavyweights in the 1960s.

He then became an advertising executive at Dan Kilgo & Associates. He co-founded the Tuscaloosa Ad Club and served as its first president.

Russ was elected Governor of the American Advertising Federation’s Deep South District. In 1977, he received the American Advertising Federation’s Silver Medal for outstanding contributions to advertising and community leadership.

Russ later founded Group One Advertising and Promotional Group, Inc.

Russ is perhaps best known as the “Voice of the Wildcats,” who has been commentating on Tuscaloosa County High School football and basketball games for over 20 years. That voice.

Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller said, “Russ brought me to Tuscaloosa and I worked for him at WJRD before joining Tiger Jack Garretson at WTBC.”

Russ Chappelle was part of the lives of many radio people in Tuscaloosa.

I am part of everything I have met.

Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler’s subjects are colorful and positive stories about Alabama. He writes about people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths in Alabama. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].

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