Murray State University alumnus Dr. Johny B. Russell has been named the 2008 recipient of the OAK Award by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. Inaugurated in 1987 by the Kentucky Advocates for Higher Education, the OAK Award rewards outstanding alumni from Kentucky colleges and universities. Past Murray State recipients include ’31 alumnus Dr. Forrest C. Pogue in 1987, ’51 alumnus Mary A. Marsh in 1993, ’62 alumnus Robert G. Burton in 1998, ’60 alumnus Dr. Gene W. Ray in 2000 and ’83 ’84 alumnus Rex Geveden in 2004.

A 1948 and 1950 Murray State graduate, Russell received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from MSU in 2007. A retired nuclear physicist and senior engineer for the Boeing Company, Russell engineered and developed components for milestones in American air and space travel such as the B-1 Lancer Bomber, the Saturn V Launch Vehicle and the original Lunar Roving Vehicle, better known as the Moon Buggy.

“It is a privilege for Murray State to celebrate Dr. Russell’s achievements through his receiving the OAK Award,” says MSU President Randy Dunn. “Dr. Russell continues to be an inspiration and a role model for MSU students 60 years after he completed his first degree here. It’s a unique point of pride for Murray State to claim such a distinguished alumnus.”

Since returning to Murray in 2006, Russell has been an avid supporter of the university and the College of Science , Engineering and Technology. He has taken an active role with the MSU Moon Buggy Team, comprised of MSU Engineering Physics students competing in the NASA Great Moon Buggy Competition. The competition is a national design contest where college students across the U.S. are given the task of designing and constructing a human-powered vehicle capable of carrying two students, one female and one male, much like the original Boeing designed lunar rover.

A tremendous supporter of the university, Russell has established several endowed scholarships at Murray State to be funded by a gift annuity he established with the university at a value of more than $1.2 million and has pledged his additional estate assets to the university. Those scholarships include the Johny B. Russell Endowed Scholarship for third and fourth year fulltime students in the Department of Engineering Physics and the Charlotte E. Russell Endowed Scholarship , named for his late wife, for fulltime students in the College of Health Sciences and Human Services. Other endowments include the Johny B. Russell Excellence in Engineering Physics Endowment to assist with needed equipment and programs in the Engineering and Physics Department and the student Moon Buggy competition; the Johny B. Russell “Standards Laboratory” and Faculty Training/Enhancement Fund for the College of Science, Engineering and Technology; the Johny B. Russell Excellence in Telecommunications System Management (TSM) Endowment to assist with equipment and programs in the TSM Department; and the CyberCave learning laboratory and the Johny B. Russell Matching Pool for Murray Fund for Excellence to assist in other university advancements.

Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson will present the award to Russell during the luncheon program at the Governor’s Conference on Postsecondary Education Trusteeship on Sept. 29 at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Lexington .