Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Ex-International Game Technology President John J. Russell dies

John J. "Bud" Russell, the former president of the Reno-based International Game Technology from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s, has died. He was 82.

His daughter, Kathleen Russell, told the Reno Gazette-Journal on Tuesday that he died in Reno Monday night with his wife and eight children at his side. The cause of death was not disclosed.

An Oklahoma City, Okla., native raised in Long Beach, Calif., Russell owned a business consulting firm before then-IGT CEO Chuck Mathewson hired him as vice president in 1986. He was named president two years later. Over the next decade he helped make IGT the world's biggest maker of slot machines.

His daughter said he was especially proud of implementing an employee profit-sharing plan, cash bonuses and helping to create an on-site child-care program.