Lee Note 51 Larry Russell June 7, 2001

Dear Kay,

Here's my story.

For those who don't remember me, I played the trumpet solo on Dull Razor Blues, our fight song, at every pep rally and game in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades and was student conductor of the A cappella Choir under Tom Seale, my senior year.

1960: off to Howard Payne majoring in sacred music 1961; married Linda Shaw-'61 graduate of Howard Payne 1961-62; attended and graduated from Decatur Baptist Jr. College (which in 1965 moved to Dallas and became Dallas Baptist University).

1962-65: attended Baylor and son, Larry M. was born 1963. Larry is now on staff at City Church, in Amarillo and he and his wife, also Linda, have my 5 grandsons and my only granddaughter.

1965-68: attended Midwestern University, Wichita Falls. At this time, I was full time Minister of Music/Education/Youth at Lamar Baptist Church in Wichita Falls, Texas

Second son, Layne B. born 1967. Layne works with the Greenville ISD and is finishing his education degree Texas A&M at Commerce.

My wife, Linda, taught school everywhere I was in college or served on a church staff, was diagnostician with Greenville ISD 1980-84 and 1988. She died of cancer in 1988.

1968-70: Minister of Music/Youth, San Jacinto Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas.

1970-78: Minister of Music/Youth, First Baptist Church, Electra, Texas.

1974 graduated with BA in Music Composition and Theory.

1978 Linda and I both graduated with Masters degrees on the same night. My Masters was in composition (that's music composition, of course!).

1978-80: Minister of Music/Youth, First Baptist Church, Dalhart, Texas.

1980-83: Minister of Music/Administration, First Baptist Church, Greenville, Texas

1984-87: Pastor of Praise/Communications, Muldoon Denali Baptist Church, Anchorage, Alaska.

1988: Began full time ministry in music evangelism in Greenville, Texas. I have served as Staff Evangelist at First Baptist Church, Greenville from 1988 to present.

I've sung in 30 states and 6 foreign countries and still play the trumpet in every service, usually an offertory solo. I've recorded 11 albums since 1960 and conducted over 750 revivals since 1957.

I'm also soloist with the Singing Men of North Central Texas (soloist on the 25th anniversary CD recorded at the Meyerson in Dallas, September 14, 2000; because of the anniversary get together we actually had over 250 singing men from all over Texas in attendance plus SRO and even sold 750 tickets to the rehearsal!) and the CenturyMen.

We sang at the Dove Awards in Nashville, in 1998, the Radio and Television, Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. Both groups have more than 120 in each group.

I conduct about 20-25 revivals each year and will both preach and sing at about 5 of those. I also sing about 30 concerts each year. By invitation, I primarily travel the six states of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Louisiana.

Last August I was privileged to go to the Netherlands for the Billy Graham sponsored "Amsterdam 2000," a meeting of some 10,000-11,000 evangelists of all denominations from all over the world.

I live about 50 miles east of Dallas just off I-30 at Greenville, TX. My home is at Lake Tawakoni, between Greenville and Quinlan, or 8 miles from Quinlan and 12 miles from Greenville. I live at the lake but don't fish, hunt or play golf. My vocation is music and my avocation is music also. I read at home or listen to tapes as I travel, James Burke, Clive Cussler and John Grisham-type books and love to watch anything of a science fiction nature.

Just reading the lists of names brings back so many wonderful memories. Sorry I have not attended any reunions until now. But I will in the future -- that's a promise! I plan to attend the Marriott gathering on June 13 and the mini-reunion in July also.

Larry B. Russell