Newport Shaper Russell Brown Dies

Russell Surfboard’s founder Robert “Russell” Brown has died at Hoag Hospital, according to a story in the Orange County Register. He was 63.

Brown has been shaping boards since 1967, and still to this day his shop near the Newport Pier is reminiscent of an old-school surf shop – not taken over by the latest surf clothing brands or accessories – but simply surfboards, lining every inch of the walls.

According to photographer Tom Cozad, Russell was found dead on Saturday, August 20, 2011:

“No other surfboard manufacturer has had a grip on the Newport surf culture as long, or as strong, as Bobby “Russell” Brown and his Russell Surfboards has. The older Blackies crew can be found cruising on his boards. The younger Upper Jetties crew can be found flying around on them. And the Underground Point and School Yards crews can be found pulling into pits throughout the world on them. No one person has transcended the vast array of Newport surf crews over the years like Russell has.

Our thoughts are with Brown’s family and friends.

[Link: OC Register]