Russell D. Hoffman

Russell D. Hoffman, a resident of Highland, IL for 76 years, died at Hot Springs Village, AR on November 21, 2011, at the age of 89. A visitation will be held Wednesday, December 28, 2011 from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home, Highland, Illinois. A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Paul Catholic Church, Highland, Illinois, Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 10:00 A.M. Interment will be Highland City Cemetery, Highland, Illinois. Russ was born in Highland on January 19, 1922, the son of Edgar and Blanche (Jacobs) Hoffman. He attended St. Paul Schools, graduating from St. Paul High in 1939. He then attended the University of Missouri where he majored in journalism. He played left field for the Tigers Big Six championship teams in 1941 and 1942. With the advent of World War II, he enlisted in the Navy Air Corps, serving 42 months before being released to inactive duty as a Lt. junior grade. Russ married Kathleen B. Hug of Highland in Hollister, CA on March 23, 1944. When he was transferred to a rocket detachment at Fallon Naval Air Station in Fallon, NV, they lived there until his discharge. After returning home from service, Russ purchased the interest of Pat Spencer in the Highland News Leader, forming a partnership with his father, Edgar, and uncle, Oscar Hoffman. During the years that followed, he purchased the interest of both, and became sole owner in 1962, the same year that the News Leader made a bold step and converted from letterpress, or hot type, to offset printing, the first paper south of Chicago to do so in Illinois. Russ sold the News Leader in 1973 to a Delphos, OH newspaper company. He remained as publisher for the new owner until 1981, when he resigned to operate the Alpine Print Shop, using equipment that had been in the News Leader for many years before that, plus offset job presses. He sold that business after 2 years and became a registered stockbroker, following that vocation until his retirement in 1998. He also served as the executive secretary of the Highland Chamber of Commerce for several years. During his days as editor of the News Leader, Russ was active in community affairs, serving on the city council from 1961 to 1965 and chairman of the council-manager form of government when that system was installed in Highland. He served on Highlandâ€™s Sesquicentennial Commission and was instrumental in publishing that history book in 1987. He was a past president of the Highland Rotary Club and Southern Illinois Editorial Association. He was listed in Whoâ€™s Who in the Midwest for many years, won the Jayceesâ€™ first Man of the Year award in 1976, was named a Master Editor, and is in the SIU Journalism Hall of Fame. In 2009, he was inducted into the Highland Area Schools Alumni Association Hall of Fame in the Sports category. Russ was on the committee that developed the Highland Community Fire Department, providing fire protection for rural areas, served on the Madison County Fair Board for many years, was an honorary member of both the Lee Iten Post American Legion and the Helvetia Sharpshooters Society after being an active member of both for over 50 years. He was also a member of the Varsity M Association of the University of Missouri. Russ was an avid golfer, bowler, and pool player. He loved playing baseball as a young man and was a lifetime St. Louis Cardinals fan. He played his first season with the Highland Merchants baseball team when he was only 15. He was a loving son, brother, husband and father, who will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Russ is survived by his wife, Kathleen, daughters Debra (Arthur) Ozias of Centerview, MO, Barb Hoffman (Greg Boscheâ€™) of Warner, NH, and Kris (Michael) Kennedy of Newtown, PA, as well as 3 grandchildren, Arthur Ozias III, John Peter Ozias, and Marlies Ozias, 2 great grandchildren, Olly and Ella Ozias, and his sister, Joan K. Schauster of Highland, IL plus several nieces and nephews. His parents and brother, Gerald, preceded him in death. Memorials can be made to the Highland Animal Shelter or St. Paul Education Foundation.

Russell D. Hoffman

January 19, 1922 - November 21, 2011