Remembering Buddy Russ On The Two Year Anniversary Of His Passing

It's hard to believe that it has been two years since friends, family, and Buddy Russ radio fans learned of our dear friend's passing. Russ "Buddy Russ" Conrad passed away two years ago today, on March 31, 2023.

The news of his passing stunned all of Southwest Louisiana, his radio listeners, and his close friends and colleagues. As I write this I remember the first time I ever met Russ. He was working at L'Auberge Casino Resort in the entertainment division. When I met him we started talking. He found out what I did for a living, he told me he had always had a dream of being a radio DJ.

He told me that he used to play DJ when he was just a little kid. He said that if there was ever an opportunity or an opening at the radio station, he would love to have the chance to be a DJ on Gator 99.5. Happily, we were able to make his dream come true.

There's a funny story about how Russ got his on-air name. He would come visit me and sit in on the show when he still worked at the casino. Every time he was on my show, I would say Hey everybody, I got my buddy Russ here with me. Of Course, I was referring to him as my buddy, not that his first name was Buddy.

So when he became a full-time employee at Townsquare Media in Lake Charles, he asked what should my radio name be? I said, Whatever you want and he asked, "What about Buddy Russ since you call me that on the air anyway?"  I said sure, sounds good to me so that, ladies and gentlemen, is how Buddy Russ was born on the radio.

He had such a great sense of humor and loved cutting up. I wanted to share a funny bit of when Russ asked people what crazy things they put in their gumbo.

Russ was the only child of David and Beth Conrad. After Russes death, his parents set up a Buddy Russ memorial foundation and have already helped countless people with cancer and have given out scholarships to people following in Buddy Russes footsteps going to school for radio and television broadcasting, Mass Communications.

Even after his death, Russ has continued to give back thanks to his awesome parents keeping his memory alive. We miss him every day, and we have a huge cardboard cut out of Russ in the studio so that he can do the shows with us every day. We miss you, Russ, and love you very much!

If you would like to make a donation to the Buddy Russ Foundation, please follow this link: Buddy Russ Foundations