Company News
In the NEWS
Santa Rosa County School Dedicated to Great Education Pioneer
July, 2007128,597 square feet, 15 acres, 871 student stations, 380 individual rooms, 37 primary classrooms, 16 intermediate classrooms, 64 restrooms; $18.4 million.
Legacy left by Bennett C. Russell, Santa Rosa County School District Superintendent for 20 years; Priceless.
A dedication marking the opening of the Bennett C. Russell Elementary School in Milton, Florida took place on July 24, 2007. Mr. Russell’s legacy was remembered by several speakers at the event. During his career in education in Santa Rosa County, he served as teacher, football coach, athletic director, principal and school superintendent. Russell died from a rare blood disease in 1999 while still in office.
“He left behind a model school system for the whole state of Florida,” said Frank Lay, Principal of Pace High School. “This school is a showcase of a great life,” remarked John Rogers, Santa Rosa County Superintendent of School.
And it truly is a showcase.
The front window display highlights Benny Russell’s career in education and the sport of football. Russell was a star athlete at Jay High School in the 1960s before playing at the University of Louisville in Kentucky and the Buffalo Bills as a third-string quarterback. The Bennett C. Russell Elementary School’s mascot, the cardinal, was chosen to honor the time Mr. Russell played at Louisville.
The school’s hallways are lined with hand-painted signs which tell the life story of Mr. Russell. You can travel down “ Bennett C. Russell Boulevard” to the “Cardinal’s Nest” or “ Buffalo Bill Way”.
STOA Architects’ principal, Bill Amspacher, was the architect for the new school. Mr. Amspacher also donated his services for the design of the Benny Russell Park in Pace.
Superintendent John Rogers stated that Mr. Amspacher and Steve Ratliff, Assistant Superintendent, make “a great team.” Amspacher has been designing schools for Santa Rosa County for over 20 years. Ratliff poked fun at Mr. Amspacher saying he was mingling in the halls before the dedication, asking people, “Wow this is a great school…do you know who the architect was?”
Kidding aside, Mr. Amspacher is very proud of this school and proud to have known the man for which the school is named.
