Russell Beck grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, where a few outstanding English teachers at Cathedral High School sparked a lifelong love of writing and critical thinking.

In 1967 and 1968, while at the University of Buffalo, he wrote a sports column titled The Athletic Supporter for the student newspaper. It was more humor than highlights, à la Dave Barry.

Years later, Dave Barry would take a similar approach and make a career out of it. So technically, Dave Barry wrote à la Russell Beck. Oh yes, he also played defensive tackle for the Bulls. 

Over the years, he’s written numerous articles and led workshops in his professional field, nonprofit management. In 2021, he was humously awarded the Nobel Runner-Up Prize in Ornithological Ethics.

He now lives in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with his wife, Naruedee, where he continues to write, reflect, and occasionally volunteers… to take out the garbage.