Following graduation from UC Berkeley in City Planning, Russ began his professional career in 1953 as a Junior Planner with the City of Berkeley. After positions with the cities of Turlock and Tacoma, Washington, and the Richmond Redevelopment Agency, Russ and his family moved to Fresno in 1956. During this time, Russ served 18 months as Land Use Planner for the Fresno-Clovis Area Planning Commission, an early attempt at cooperation among Fresno, Clovis, and Fresno County.

Russ then worked for the City of Modesto for 12 years, the last eight years as Planning Director. His career took a new direction in 1969 when he began teaching in the newly established Department of Urban Planning at what is now California State University, Fresno (CSUF). He taught at CSUF until 1994 and was awarded Emeritus status in 1995.

During his tenure at CSUF, Russ served on the Fresno City Planning Commission, as well as participating on the Main Street Committee, the Downtown Association of Fresno, citizens advisory committees for the Fulton-Lowell Specific Plan and the Tower District Specific Plan, and the Historic Preservation Commission. The fusion of his educational pursuits—including a second master’s degree in historic resources management—fueled his growing, diverse and intertwining civic interests in neighborhood conservation, historic preservation, and self-help housing.

Russ was a consulting historic preservation planner for many small cities in the San Joaquin Valley. He is fondly remembered by his many students as a mentor to those entering the profession and as a friend and colleague to those dedicated to good planning.