It’s Buddy Russ Day In Southwest Louisiana

It's hard to believe that it has been one year already since friends, family, and Buddy Russ radio fans came together for the first Buddy Russ Day on Sunday, February 5th, 2023. The event was held at Wayne's in South Sulphur.

So many showed up to volunteer for the event. It included a silent and live auction, plenty of great food cooked by local people, and live music all day long. It was to celebrate Russ "Your Buddy Russ" Conrad who was a huge part of our community. He would tirelessly volunteer and lend his talents to local charities and loved his community.

We raised money for the medical expenses that Russ accrued as he fought stage 4 bone marrow cancer. Unfortunately, less than two months after Buddy Russ's day, Russ passed away at the age of 39 on Friday, March 31st, 2023. His funeral was held on his birthday on April 4th when he would have turned 40.

The loss saddened the Southwest Louisiana community, his family, friends, and his Townsquare Media Lake Charles family.

You may not know this but Russ always wanted to be a radio DJ and he used to say that he would play DJ when he was just a little kid. He said that when he got the opportunity to be a DJ on Gator 99.5, he said it was a dream come true.

Ever since his benefit last year and after Russ passed away, his parents David and Beth Conrad set up a Buddy Russ memorial foundation and are using the leftover monies from the benefit to pay it forward.

Today is now the second annual Russ "Your Buddy Russ" Conrad Day. Please think about him and pray for all of his family, friends, and fans who miss him dearly every day.

Think of that one time you either met Russ or heard him on the radio and he made you laugh. That is what we celebrate today. His contagious spirit, his laugh, and his kind heart.

We love and miss you, Russ! Below is a post that Russ wrote featuring his old MYspace photos. Get ready to smile.