Lance Russell, the longtime Memphis wrestling announcer credited with launching the career of Jerry Lawler, died early Tuesday in Memphis at the age of 91.
Russell, who lived in Pensacola, Fla., was in town visiting family when he fell and broke a hip, according to Lawler. Russell's daughter, Valerie Russell Houston, died Friday of cancer while Russell was here, and her funeral is Tuesday evening at Memorial Park.
"These two tragedies for the family right together is just so sad," Lawler said.
Russell began his foray into wrestling in Jackson, Tenn. That's where he was asked in 1955 if he wanted to announce local wresting matches when his TV station began airing them.
"I said I'd love to try it. Always been a fan. So that's how I got into it," Russell recalled in an interview with Lawler in which Lawler reminisced at length with his longtime foil.
Russell moved to Memphis from Jackson and continued as a wrestling commentator, first at Channel 13 and later, beginning in 1977, at Channel 5 with long-time sidekick Dave Brown.
Brown, who is now retired, tweeted that Russell was responsible for Brown's own TV success.
