Daniel Russell

In Their Words

"Daniel was a uniquely free spirit- He was always seeking the next adventure and found joy in the smallest things. I was dating John — one of Daniel's closest friends and roommates — and getting to know their community meant getting to know Druss. Druss was reliable and faithful. I never worried about their friendship- Druss was steadfast and the definition of kindness. And when I came into their lives, Druss treated me with so much love from the first day I met him. He treated me like a sister, and sometimes we even were mistaken for siblings! I have many memories of Druss from how he invited all my roommates who he hard my knew over to make dinner for all of us; or getting to watch the inside chaotic happenings of South Memphis which included lots of wrestling; or how he treated my own little brother like family; or even how he made me the most mad Ive ever been at him when he sabotaged me during Secret Hitler game night. But one memory sticks out as I reflect on Druss and how much I will always miss him… I remember as I was moving out of Waco, I need to carry a large dresser outside my house to the girl I had sold my furniture to. John had left his phone at home on a run, so I called Druss knowing that if anybody would come to help, he would. And he did. He was literally there in a minute. He dropped everything to come help me. That was Druss's character. He had a love for people that served others; a love like Jesus. His joy radiantes in each of these photos. I will always remember him that way- with a smile so contagious even just looking at the pictures it makes you smile, too."

In Their Words

"Druss- I will always think about this memory😊 It only incapsulates a snip it of the person he is😊 But curiosity, joy, and kindness are just a few words that instantly come to my mind:) From the memories of hosting us all over for dinner to how he would make us laugh, Druss was full of fun, but he was also so intentional in making his friends feel seen! I think of him as a listener, one who is always the first to ask how you are, one who will laugh with you, but one who just seriously genuinely will sit with you. From our roof random lunch picnic being cancelled because we weren't supposed to be on the roof hahahaha to us chasing fireflies outside my house😊 He had such a curiosity for the world and an energy full of life! Kindness is a word that I have grown so fond of - because to be deeply kind is so rare. To have the curiosity for people, the time to listen, and the heart to see people- that is what I think about when I think of kindness & Druss truly embodied it in all that he did😊 It was a privilege to know Druss and to be his friend- and I will always be thankful for his friendship and admire the special person God made him to be😊!"

In Their Words

"I don't remember exactly when the idea was born, but at some point in our senior year Daniel and I engaged in a game of what are the odds. The rules are simple, one party creates a dare, and the other party responds on the odds that they will complete that dare. Daniel set the odds at 10, and on the count of 3 we both said 7. The odds were hit, this meant that the following day, Daniel and I would have to go to class wearing each other's clothes. To understand the significance of this occurrence, it's important to note that Daniel and I's style could not have been more distinct. At the time I was entering a personal fashion renaissance, experimenting (often unsuccessfully) with statement pieces and baggy silhouettes. Daniel on the other hand, had found his stylistic lane, a lane consisting of dozens of rhoback polos. For me, the effect was minimal. I threw on a nice polo, some khakis, and went on my way. I rolled into class, and most others thought I was going for a business casual look that day, no one thought twice. Daniel however, sacrificed much more. I dressed him in my finest baggy jeans, a thrifted camo tee, and some Birkenstock Bostons. After braving the business school atrium and surviving the many stares he surely received, he made it to his class. This should have meant safety, right? Wrong. The professor of that class singled out his new outfit, bringing him to the front of the class to do a spin for the admiration of the class. I couldn't imagine the embarrassment that must have followed. This memory is one of the many examples of Daniel's Incredible ability to say yes. While he maybe gave up more in this example, he did so with a smile on his face. He was someone that brought fun to so many moments, and found joy in bringing happiness to others."

In Their Words

"My favorite moments with D Russ were always the spontaneous ones. Whether it was going to QuickTrip at midnight, road trips to Nashville and Waco, or getting pledged by him in the back of a self driving Tesla, d Russ always had ways of making the small moments memorable. Daniel was my friend, fraternity brother, personal financial advisor, Baylor celebrity friend, fellow delusional Memphis-lover. Not a day goes by where I don't think of and miss Daniel and his joyful presence."