Athletic Hall of Fame
The Gustavus Adolphus College Hall of Fame was established in 1978 at which time 19 "Charter Members" were inducted either as coaches or as athletes. As of the fall of 2022, 348 individuals (321 athletes, 16 coaches and 11 benefactors) have been elected to the Hall of Fame.
The former Hall of Fame room on the second floor of the Lund Center was originally partially endowed by the families of both Dwight Holcombe's (the only father/son combination holding membership in the Hall). The hardwood plaque upon which the individual plates are permanently displayed, now in the Hall of Champions, was donated by the family of former football coach and Hall of Fame member Jocko Nelson, who passed away in 1978.
Russell Buckley
Baseball, Football, and Track & Field
Inducted: 1979
Russell W. Buckley '41 lettered three years in football and track, and one year in baseball at Gustavus. He was Captain of the 1938 and 1939 football teams, and was All-Conference both years. He was also Honorary Captain of the 1939 All-Conference Team, runner-up in conference scoring in 1938 and 1939. In addition, he was named an Honorable Mention Little All America selection in 1939; he served as track team coach in 1938.
In 1940 he was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals of the National Football League, and played professional football in 1940 and 1941.
He entered the United States Army Air Corps in 1942 as a cadet and graduated from flying school in August 1942. Tours of duty included Newfoundland, Alaska, Japan, Korea, and four years as an Air Science Instructor at Purdue University and Illinois Institute of Technology. He retired from the United States Air Force in 1964 with the rank of Lt. Colonel.
Russ and his wife, Margaret, had a son and a daughter.