Edmond J. Russ (March 28, 1928 – March 13, 2022) was an attorney, real estate entrepreneur, and civic leader in Gardena, California. He served multiple terms as mayor of Gardena, played a leading role in regional transportation planning, and was heavily involved in philanthropic and community organizations. The freeway interchange at Interstate 110 and State Route 91 is named the *Edmond J. Russ Interchange* in his honor.

Edmond J. Russ was born in Gardena, California, in 1928. He attended Denker Avenue Elementary School and later graduated from Gardena High School. He continued his education at El Camino College before enrolling at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he earned a B.A. in Business Administration in 1951 and, subsequently, a law degree in 1954.

He married Irene (née Rudder) shortly after law school. Together they raised five children — Cyndi, Anne, Linda, Janette, and David — and in later years had seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

After completing his law degree, Russ returned to Gardena to begin his legal career. He established his own law practice and maintained an active role as an attorney for more than 55 years. He also held a real estate broker’s license, combining his legal expertise with business interests in property.

In 1988, he became Chairman of the Board of **Russ Property Management Corp.**, a company managing a broad portfolio of commercial and residential real estate. Over time, his investments included mobile home parks, industrial buildings, shopping centers, apartment complexes, and rental condominiums, located not only in California but in Nevada (Las Vegas) and Hawaii (Maui).

Russ also served as a director for several banks and savings-and-loan institutions, including Gardena Savings & Loan, Civic National Bank, and Republic Bank, applying his legal and managerial skills to the financial sector.

Russ entered public service as a member of the Gardena City Council, serving from 1968 to 1972. He was first elected mayor in 1969, serving a one-year term, and later returned to the mayoralty from 1974 to 1982. In recognition of his many years of service, he was later honored with the title *Mayor Emeritus*.

In 1976, he attended the Mayors’ Leadership Institute under the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Baltimore, Maryland, enhancing his skills in municipal leadership. At the regional level, Russ served as Chairman of the South Bay Cities Association and was a member (and chairman) of the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission from 1974 to 1982, helping oversee transportation planning for the region.

Russ was deeply involved in community, church, and charitable organizations:

• Vice President (and later Judge Advocate) of the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Guild Association.
• Chaired the Gardena–Ichikawa Sister City Committee, fostering international ties.
• Served as President of the Kiwanis Club of Gardena Valley — honored as *Man of the Decade* and *Kiwanian of the Year*.
• Grand Knight of the Gardena Valley Knights of Columbus, and played a key role in establishing the Knights of Columbus Hall.
• Mr. Russ held a directorship in the Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce.
• Led the capital campaign (1989–1993) to build the Gardena/Carson Family YMCA.
• Supported a wide array of nonprofits: YMCA fundraising efforts; Legal Aid Society; Catholic Welfare; Elks Lodge programs (including cerebral palsy initiatives); United Auxiliary for Mentally Retarded Children; Harland Shoemake Clinic; and regional Catholic social-service boards.

Russ also maintained professional associations: he was a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, South Bay Bar Association, American Bar Association, Japanese American Citizens League, Order of Alhambra, UCLA fraternities (Phi Alpha Delta, Tau Kappa Epsilon), and others. He belonged to the Japanese American National Museum and the Gardena Heritage Foundation.

Russ co-founded the annual **YMCA Classic** golf tournament and served as its Chairman for 20 years; he was originally Co-Chair with Willie Tokishi of American Honda Corporation. He also participated in the **Gardena Valley Kiwanis Classic** for five decades, including 11 years as its Chairman. These tournaments became longstanding pillars of YMCA fundraising in the South Bay.

One of Russ’s most visible legacies is the **Edmond J. Russ Interchange**, the junction of Interstate 110 and State Route 91. The interchange was named in his honor in recognition of his leadership on the 91/110 Interchange Task Force and his efforts to improve regional transportation.

He received numerous awards:

• YMCA Golden Book of Distinguished Service (1991)
• Metropolitan YMCA Award
• Gardena/Carson YMCA Triangle Award for Distinguished Service (1991)
• Waller Taylor II Award (Metropolitan YMCA) — one of just five awarded since 1956
• Wall of Fame, City of Gardena (inducted October 28, 1995) — one of the first three honorees
• El Camino College Distinguished Alumni Award
• Kiwanian of the Year, Gardena Valley Kiwanis Club

Russ and his wife Irene were married for over 70 years, raising a large and close-knit family. Beyond his professional and public service, he enjoyed family travel (including trips in a camper and vacations in Maui), fitness activities like jogging and 10Ks, and being a lifelong supporter of UCLA athletics.

Edmond J. Russ passed away on March 13, 2022. His life was celebrated by family, friends, and community members who remembered him as a tireless public servant and pillar of the Gardena community.

• Obituary – Dignity Memorial
• California Highways – Route 91 (history of 91/110 interchange)

Key Sources for Edmond J. Russ Biography

Obituary – Lighthouse Memorials / Dignity Memorial

Edmond J. Russ Obituary gives detailed personal history: birth and death dates, family, education, legal career, civic involvement, and charitable work. Dignity Memorial +1

That obituary confirms: Councilman (1968–1972), Mayor (1969–70, 1974–82), law practice in Gardena, real estate work, and many civic roles. Dignity Memorial

Los Angeles Times – “Toward Equality: … Gardena”

In a 1989 article, the L.A. Times quotes former Mayor Edmond J. Russ regarding Gardena’s ethnic diversity and civic unity. Los Angeles Times

This helps demonstrate Russ’s leadership during a dynamic era of demographic change in Gardena. Wikipedia

Los Angeles Times – “Bond Voyage: Pay-as-You-Go Policy”

This 1986 article discusses Gardena’s longstanding “pay-as-you-go” fiscal philosophy. It quotes Ed Russ as recalling that the city avoided bonds and did projects with local funds. Los Angeles Times

This supports claims about his fiscal conservatism and city governance philosophy.

California Highways / Caltrans / Naming Records

The California Highways website confirms that the I-110 / SR 91 interchange is officially named the Edmond J. Russ Interchange. California Highways +1

According to their records: the interchange was built in 1985 and named by Assembly Concurrent Resolution 135, Chapter 162 in 1982. California Highways

PBS SoCal article “Politics and Memory Along the Highways of Los Angeles” also mentions Russ’s role: calling him a “former Chairman of the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission” and ties him to the interchange naming. PBS SoCal

City of Gardena Archival Collection

The Online Archive of California (OAC) holds the “City of Gardena, 1900–2013” collection, which includes scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, and materials relating to mayors, sister-city programs, and “Wall of Fame” awards. OAC

While the archive does not provide a free text biography of Russ, these collections could be used to further corroborate his civic roles (e.g., in the Gardena–Ichikawa sister city committee, city council, etc.).