William Felton Russell was an American professional basketball player. He was born on February 12, 1934, and passed away on July 31, 2022.
At the Summer Olympics in 1956, he led the United States men’s national basketball team as captain. He was a member of the Boston Celtics from 1956 through 1969,
during which time he won five NBA Most Valuable Player awards. Bill Russell was the first African-American player to be recognized as a superstar in the National Basketball Association (NBA),
He was also the first African-American coach in any North American professional sport. As a result of his playing career, he was recognized and honoured for being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975.
In 1996, Russell was recognized as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, and in 2021, he was chosen for inclusion on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
In recognition of Russell’s achievements both on the bench and in the battle for civil rights, President Barack Obama bestowed upon him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011
Is Bill Russell Married?
From 1956 to 1973, Russell shared his life with his undergraduate love, Rose Swisher, whom he married. They were blessed with three children, including a daughter named Karen Russell.
The couple eventually split after becoming emotionally estranged from one another. Dorothy Anstett, who won the title of Miss USA in 1968, became his wife in 1977; the couple later separated in 1980.
In 1996, Russell weds Marilyn Nault, making her his third and last marriage. Their union remained strong until the beginning of 2009 when she passed away.
At the time of his passing, Russell had a wife named Jeannine Russell who he had been married to.
