Russell Bunker was a name many members of the Sidney community associated with leadership and community involvement due to his active participation in community betterment. Russell was born and raised in Sidney, graduating from Sidney High School in 1941, when he moved west to Los Angeles to get an engineering degree. When the United States entered WWII that same year, Russell enlisted in the Air Force instead. He was honorably discharged in 1946 at the rank of First Lieutenant, having served as a plane navigator and radio operator in the European Theater. Russell returned to Sidney, working first at Wagner Manufacturing Company and then at Ross Aluminum. While at Ross Aluminum, he made several contributions to their research and development team as well as became superintendent of the Avon Division foundry. Russell Bunker also contributed greatly to the community during the time he spent on the boards for the Chamber of Commerce, Wilson Memorial Hospital, and the YMCA. He was also president of the local IUTIS Club and worked with many of the youth in that organization. Russell helped establish a teen center building fund, however his most notable contribution was the efforts he made in founding the Alpha Community Center to serve underprivileged men, women and children within the area. He chaired its first board and was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. Russell Bunker passed away in 2005 at the age of 83.
