H.N. “Rusty” Russell lettered in football, basketball and track at Howard Payne and was captain of the football and basketball teams. In football, he was named All-Conference at end. Russell, of Fredonia in Mason County, was best known as a high school and college coach and the architect of the complex spread offense. Russell was head coach from 1929-41 at the Masonic Home and School for orphans in Fort Worth. The story of the Mighty Mites was chronicled in the 2008 book Twelve Mighty Orphans: The Inspiring True Story of the Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football. The book was adapted in 2021 for the film 12 Mighty Orphans. Russell took the Mites to the state playoffs 10 times, including the 1932 state championship 0-0 tie vs. Corsicana. In 1942, Russell was hired at Highland Park and had an overall record of 27–4. He coached the team with Bobby Layne and Doak Walker to an appearance in the 1944 state championship. He was then hired at SMU as assistant head coach responsible for the offense. During his tenure, the Mustangs were nationally ranked, won two Southwest Conference championships and made the Cotton Bowl in 1947 and 1948. He was named SMU’s coach in 1950 but resigned after two losing seasons. He then coached at Schreiner College and Victoria College, retiring in 1960. He came out of retirement in 1962 to coach at Howard Payne for two seasons. Russell was inducted to the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame, the Texas High School Coaches Hall of Honor and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. He died in 1983.