Professional Football Player. After graduating from Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, Torance Albert Russell made the football team at Auburn University as a walk-on. He was a 6-foot-4, 240-pound tackle at Auburn, a big man for his day. He lettered in 1936, '37 and '38 and was selected to The Birmingham News-Age Herald's all-time team for the 1892-1943 period. Russell played in the Tigers' first two bowl games, the 1937 Bacardi in Havana, Cuba, and the 1938 Orange Bowl. Following his storybook college career, he was captain in the first Blue-Gray Game in 1939. He was taken in the 6th round of the NFL draft by the Washington Redskins. He played with them in 1939 and 1940 as a tackle and kicker. He was somewhat productive as a kicker, making 93 percent of his extra point kick attempts. He scored 38 points as a kicker in 22 NFL games. He then joined the service, rising to the rank of captain in the South Pacific. After four years in the service, he had a 50-year career with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. He was a Southeastern Conference football official for 17 years. He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1979.
Professional Football Player. After graduating from Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, Torance Albert Russell made the football team at Auburn University as a walk-on. He was a 6-foot-4, 240-pound tackle at Auburn, a big man for his day. He lettered in 1936, '37 and '38 and was selected to The Birmingham News-Age Herald's all-time team for the 1892-1943 period. Russell played in the Tigers' first two bowl games, the 1937 Bacardi in Havana, Cuba, and the 1938 Orange Bowl. Following his storybook college career, he was captain in the first Blue-Gray Game in 1939. He was taken in the 6th round of the NFL draft by the Washington Redskins. He played with them in 1939 and 1940 as a tackle and kicker. He was somewhat productive as a kicker, making 93 percent of his extra point kick attempts. He scored 38 points as a kicker in 22 NFL games. He then joined the service, rising to the rank of captain in the South Pacific. After four years in the service, he had a 50-year career with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. He was a Southeastern Conference football official for 17 years. He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1979.
Bio by: Mel Bashore
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