John Russell

John Russell served in World War II, earning a Bronze Star and Purple Heart for wounds he received at Cassino. After the war, Russell, who retired as a Lieutenant-Colonel and was always called “The Colonel,” continued to compete in horse competitions, especially in Europe, including the 1948 and 1952 Olympics. He won the Aga Khan Trophy in Dublin, the Prix de Nations in Milano, and the Hamburg Trophy before settling in San Antonio in 1956, where he became Officer in Charge of the US Modern Pentathlon Team. He coached at six Olympics and 22 World Championships with the modern pentathletes, at the Russell Equestrian Center in San Antonio. Russell was inducted into the International Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 2001 and in 2010, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the FEI.