Russ was one of my best shooting friends. I don't even know where to start talking about him. I met him first in a goose blind on the Chester River when Don Kaas had invited me out for a pigeon shoot at Philly. I liked him from the start, and liked him even more as I got to know him. I've stayed at his home, hunted over his dogs, drank his whiskey, and laughed till I hurt over the tales he could tell. He worked on my guns (usually for free), shared his knowledge with me, and was just an all around gentleman.
I've shot pigeons with that hammer gun Murphy mentions. Even in my inept hands it was murder and when he shot it was near magic. When I was last in the east on a railbird shooting invite from Kaas, I stopped in to visit him and go to a pigeon shoot at The Berm Club which he'd helped found. The weather was perfect, we had as fine a day as you can ask for. I didn't know that was the last time I'd ever see him but it's as good a final memory as a man might ever want for a friend.
Found a couple pictures I thought I'd post:
On a pheasant shoot last winter with his dogs and myself at Wing Pointe.
After the last shot was fired for a limit of ducks in Quebec, that's Kevin on the left.