Alvah Parker Russell was named for his father Alvah and his middle name was Parker, which was his mother Laura's maiden name. He always went by the name Parker. He was born at Arthur City, Texas, September 15,1895, in the upstairs living quarters of the Union Pacific Railroad depot. (His father was a telegraph operator and station agent.) Between his birth and the death of his mother, in 1899, the family lived at Jenson, and Potosi, when it was still in Indian Territory, and Oskaloosa, Missouri. His mother died at Oskaloosa, Mo, when Parker was about 4 and a half. He lived with his Aunt Ella (Russell) and Uncle Charles Trowbridge in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas for about 5 years, until his father re-married.In 1906, the Russell family moved from Springfield, Mo. to Joplin Mo. where Parker spent the majority of his life. During WWI, Parker was a member of Company G, 88th Infantry, 19th Division. He was opposed to the war, and on his draft record he wanted to be listed as a conscientious objector, therefore, he worked in the stables, and a hospital during the flu epidemic at Camp Dodge, Iowa. Parker made his living as a "sign painter " ( commercial artist) for various businesses. From 1919 to 1921, he worked for MacPherson Sign Company. From 1921 to 1931 he owned and operated American Sign Works , where he pioneered the mass production of advertising signs using the silk screen process. From 1931 to 1939, he was a silent partner in the Myers Sign Company, where he designed and fabricated neon signs. It was during the time working with Myers, that he designed, fabricated and erected the animated Greyhound Bus sign at the Union Bus Station, Third and Joplin Avenue, in Joplin. From 1939 to 1941, he was self-employed and owned the Russell Sign Company. In December of 1942, he began working for Spencer Chemical Company. He was featured in the Spencer News bulletin and praised for his talents with the paintbrush. " He has made hundreds of cartoons, caricatures, sketches and posters in his career with the company." He also made backgrounds and landscape paintings for Spencer Chemical exhibits, which were displayed at industrial fairs and shows throughout the country, and viewed by thousands each year. He also designed and cut trademark stencils for railroad tank cars, which were all hand drawn and hand cut. He said about himself that he had " little formal art training, and learned to paint the hard way, trial and error-mostly error." He retired from Spencer , on September 15, 1960. In retirement he continued to paint art for his own enjoyment, many of which are enjoyed to this day by his grandchildren. Parker married Miss Nina Penniwell, on May 4, 1921 in Joplin, Mo. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, Robert S. Thurman American Legion Post No. 13, and a former member of the Masonic Lodge, Joplin.

Contributor: Jana Russell (49083515) • [email protected]