Russell B. Clanahan

Russell B. Clanahan,85 , died February 17, following a long illness. He was the loving husband to Marie I(Mazuk)Clanahan since November 10, 1956. They resided in Springfield Va. for the past 51 of their 57 years together. Mr. Clanahan was born August 3, 1928 the son of the late Bertha and Charles "Chuck" Clanahan in Rochester, Mi. Russell earned a full 4 year academic scholarship and graduated from Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor Campus in 1949 with a B.A. from the School of Journalism. He served with the Navy during the Korean Conflict stationed with the Admiral’s Office (HQ) in Japan. Mr. Clanahan was a journalist at the Lincoln Evening Courier, the Battle Creek Enquirer and the Detroit Free Press. A highlight of his journalist career was while working as The Telegraph Editor for the Lincoln, IL. Newspaper, he and another staff writer uncovered a link between an illicit gambling-politics link. They were later fired for exposing the corruption by the newspaper’s publishers, John and Allyne Nugent. Mrs. Nugent said at the time, “We do not want to send anyone to jail.” However, the state Attorney General Bernard Mayberry, successfully indicted all corrupt officials and the Logan County Social Action Comm. Praised Mr. Clanahan and Mr. Nehman for “their fearless devotion to the highest principles of journalism…and we regret their dismissal and we comment these young graduates of the University of Michigan for their fearless devotion to the highest principles of journalism in reporting not only the obvious news but also the less obvious alliances between public officials and law violation.” Huge bundles of newspapers bound by train for Lincoln, IL. were stolen to avert the scandal from being reported in Lincoln, IL. Due to the power of the press the story was republished in local newspapers, including the April 21, 1951 edition of the Chicago Daily News. He worked for the Office of the Civil Defense(OCD), which later became Office of Emergency Preparedness, then later FEMA for over 30 years.He started with (OCD) in Battle Creek Mi., then at Pentagon, Rosslyn and SW D.C. He was also a member of the National Press Club and Sigma Delta Chi. Besides his wife Russell is survived by his 3 daughters, Jan wife of Dave Michek, Diane L. Bowman, and Holly wife of Maurice Selb, and a son John R. and his wife Kathey Clanahan; he also leaves grandchildren April M. Smith, Noelle S. Carroll and her husband Danny, Suzanne N. Selb, and Michael J.Clanahan and his wife Cory. Russell had two loving great grandchildren Alijah, and Azalia Barr. The Graveside Service for Mr. Clanahan will begin at 2 p.m. at the National Memorial Park Cemetery, 7482 Lee Hwy, Falls Church Va. on Tuesday February 25. Donations in his memory are suggested to WETA, public radio in Washington,D.C. 2775 Quincy St., Arlington, Va. 22206,ATTN: Membership and or University of Michigan 3003 S. State St., Suite 8000, Ann Arbor, Mi. 48109, ATTN: LS&A Fund in Memory of Russell Clanahan.