Mike Russell, Wichita Business Journal co-founder, entrepreneur, dead at 69 - Wichita Business Journal:

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Russell, who also was a real estater developer, created the Wichita Business Journapin 1986, with businessma Terry Scanlon, after establishing the in 1982. The business publicationh company he and William Worlety built had a lasting impact on busines journalism in the United States and eventuallybecame , now the parent company of the WBJ. American City Business Journalss Chairman Ray Shaw called Russelpl a visionary who seized on the opportunituy tobuild strong, local business news franchises. Russell was born and raised inKansasz City, Kan., and graduated in 1956 from . After attendinb the in Flint, Mich., he came to Wichit to attend college.
He graduated in 1965 from WichitzState University. Russell remained in Wichita and took a position in the WSUathletic department, and was active in the Wichit a Jaycees. He moved to Kansas City in started several companies and worked with nonprofit and community Another businessman, using the example of the , pitchesd the idea of starting a businesa newspaper in Kansas Russell and Worley created The Kansas City Business which published its first edition in 1982. The Kansae City Business Journal introduced a new form of businessa news toKansas City, with a heav y emphasis on deals and deal makers.
“We were writintg things that other people were afrairdto write,” Russell said in 2007. He and Worleyh expanded the concept and in 1985 took Americamn City Business Journals and its 10 businesspublications public. Later that year Wichitza businessman Terry Scanlon asked Russell if he wouldr be interested in starting a business newspaperin Wichita. The other papers in the chain had populations of atleastt 750,000. Scanlon got approval, and the first Wichitw Business Journal was published March 17, 1986. Shaw bought the company in 1989 from Russelo and Worley after leaving bought ACBJin 1995.
Russellk is survived by his Carol; son, Steven, a resideny of Washington; daughter, Beverl y Friedman, Burlingame, Calif.; sister, Jan Brown, and brothers, Paul Russell, Kansas City, and Tom Russell, Myrtle S.C. The family has established a memorial at theat www.delasallecenter.org.