Russell (Bill) is born in West Monroe, Louisiana.

The son of Charlie and Katie Russell, Bill Russell grows up in California, attends the University of San Francisco, where he leads the team to two consecutive NCAA national basketball championships, plays on the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic team, joins the Boston Celtics in 1956,* and leads them to 11 championships in 13 years. The greatest winner in sports history, Russell lives for a time at 61 The Arborway, becomes involved in local civil rights efforts, but has a complicated relationship with the city. He once tells his daughter, “I played for the Celtics, period. I did not play for Boston.” Russell moves to Seattle, where he coaches the Seattle Supersonics, and dies on Mercer Island, Washington, ion July 31, 2022.. A statue of him is installed on City Hall Plaza in 2013.*