Fritz Russ, BSEE ’42, HON ’75
Fritz J. Russ, BSEE '42 and LDD-ENGR (HON) '75. Fritz Russ’ innovation, vision and technical abilities launched him into an engineering career that has spanned more than 50 years. Born in Jackson County Ohio, Fritz graduated from Ohio University in 1942 with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering. During WWII, Fritz was employed with the Naval Research laboratory. He distinguished himself as the developer of an automatic frequency control system for large diesel generators for which he was awarded several patents. In 1955, Fritz left his position as a senior engineer with the U.S. Air Force to start his own company in Dayton with his wife Dolores. Together, they founded Systems Research Laboratories which grew into one of the largest and most productive, independent engineering and technology research firms in the world.
In 1987, the Russ’ sold SRL and Fritz started his own consulting firm, the Russ Venture Group. He has served on many boards of corporations and civic organizations including Wright State University and the Ohio Commodores, and was appointed by President Gerald Ford to a committee formed to study national policy on science, technology, and engineering. Fritz has received many national and state accolades, among them, the E. J. Nutter Award presented on “Fritz Russ Day” in Greene County, Ohio, the naming of the Fritz and Dolores Russ Engineering Center at Wright State University in their honor, the Ohio University Medal of Merit in 1964 and Alumnus of the Year Award in 1983. Russ served as a member of the Ohio University Board of Trustees and the Foundation Board of Trustees. He is a member of the College’s Board of Visitors and served on the College’s Major Gifts Committee. In 1994, Ohio University proudly named the College of Engineering and Technology in honor of Fritz and Dolores Russ’ vision and commitment to education and their generous support of students and faculty at Ohio University.