Sunday, August 23, 2009

William 'Bill' Russell dies at 94; longtime high school sports commissioner

William 'Bill' Russell dies at 94; longtime high school sports commissioner
As the head of the California Interscholastic Federation, Russell helped formulate the first athletic code enabling schools to sponsor girls' teams, with rules adopted statewide in 1967.

William "Bill" Russell, a former longtime California Interscholastic Federation commissioner who was instrumental in the rise of girls' high school sports, died Aug. 9 at his home in Santa Barbara. He had brain cancer. He was 94.