Yesterday, most of the bike racing community in Montana learned of the death of Don Russell on August 14. Geoff Proctor, of CrossSportif, shared his thoughts:
It’s with heavy heart to receive news of Don Russell’s passing. https://www.longfellowfinneganriddle.com/obituaries/Donald-Russell-12/#!/Obituary
Don was instrumental in the growth of bike racing in Montana as well as regionally and nationally with @usacycling. He had a full command of the cycling landscape as a coach, competitor, official, organizer, and supporter. He understood the importance of rules and boundaries. Punctuality and timeliness. The art of compromise. The list of Don’s contributions to our Montana cycling scene runs long and deep.
My favorite Don memory is from just over 10 years ago—September 2008. Montana’s first Scholastic Mountain Bike Championships in Phillipsburg, MT. Weather: cold, raw, pissing down rain. Competitors: maybe 17. Mud-spackled smiles: numerous.
My point: Don understood the ecosystem of cycling in a rural state. He understood that it had to start somewhere. The desire. The dreams. The skills. The pathway. And—crucially–that it could go somewhere.
Our club (Montana Velo) went on to organize the next three state scholastic mountain bike championships in Helena (2009-2011) and now—a decade later—Sam Schultz is orchestrating a Montana chapter of NICA to move us into the next generation. We are all indebted to Don for his tireless work on behalf of the sport we love.
Our sport needs more Don Russells right now. It’s not an easy road and it takes a community to nurture good bike racers. I am proud to have known and worked with Don, sharing a deep, mutual passion for athlete development. My thoughts are with his family.
Photo: Don Russell presenting gold medal to winner (12-year old/7th grader) Landen Beckner (Helena) at Montana Scholastic Mountain Bike Championships, 21 September 2008, Phillipsburg, MT. Almost exactly 6 years later, Landen went on to represent Team USA at the 2014 Junior World MTB Championships in Norway.
Root to the fruit. Don got that.
Geoff Proctor
CrossSportif@aol.com
Donations in Don’s honor may be made to “K-9s for Warriors”
