Former Houston Reporter Dies at 55 Years Old

Former KHOU Reporter John "Rucks" Russell passed away after contracting the coronavirus.

A friend of Russell’s say that Russell’s wife says he died of COVID, which he contracted while caring for his brother who had also contracted the virus.

Mike McGuff reports that Russell worked at KHOU 11 from 2006 to 2017. 

He left the station to work as the Communications Director for U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in Washington DC.

His Twitter bio says he then became the Senior Media and Communications Specialist HHS Office of Minority Health.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he last worked as Chief of Staff/Communications Director for Houston City Council.

Prior to KHOU, Russell worked for WNCN Raleigh, WRIC Central Virginia as well as stops in Washington, Orlando and Roanoke, Va.