Rose Swisher was the first wife of NBA legend Bill Russell, out of the four marriages he had. Despite being married to one of the most famous basketball players of all time, Swisher kept a low profile until recently when her story was showcased in a Netflix documentary released on Feb. 8, 2023. While many people are familiar with Russell’s basketball career, little is known about his personal life, especially about his wives, which the documentary briefly sheds light on.
Russell and Swisher were college sweethearts and got married on December 9, 1956. They shared three children, sons Jacob and William Junior, and daughter Karen Russell. Despite experiencing many of Russell’s victories together, their happy days came to an end, and they eventually divorced.
Although Russell has been married 4 times, he has only had children with Swisher. Bill Russell had a total of three children – Karen, William Jr., and Jacob with her.
After the divorce with Russell in the year 1973, Swisher went into oblivion and lived a secluded life. On September 11, 2014, Rose Swisher passed away at the age of 78.
Rose Swisher’s daughter Karen Russell
In the realm of law and politics, Karen Russell is a formidable presence, known for her astute analyses and insightful commentaries. Born on January 20, 1962, Russell has achieved remarkable feats in her career. A graduate of Harvard Law School, she has delved into prominent court cases and national political matters.
Russell’s expertise has led to her frequent appearances on major media outlets, including MSNBC and CNN. She has also weighed in on high-profile legal battles involving NBA players, such as Kobe Bryant and Jayson Williams.
Apart from her legal work, Russell is an avid activist, and her articles have been featured in notable publications such as the New York Times Magazine and HuffPost. Despite her many accomplishments, Russell remains active in her field, dedicated to making a difference through her work.
Rose Swisher’s eldest son – William Felton Russell Jr.
In 2016, the eldest son of the legendary NBA player Bill Russell, William Felton Russell Jr., known endearingly as “Buddha,” sadly lost his battle with cancer. William Jr., who was born on November 2, 1957, had an avid interest in trucks from an early age, and eventually fulfilled his passion by working as a driver for Cox Trucking for several years.
Despite his brave struggle, William Jr. ultimately passed away on January 25, 2016, peacefully in his sleep.
Rose Swisher’s youngest son Jacob
In the year 1959, Jacob H. Russell was born. Being the youngest son of the NBA legend, he hasn’t been in the public eye much, leading to limited information about him. However, sources report that he currently resides in Washington State with his wife, Sara Marckx Russell.
Bill Russell and his four wives
Bill Russell’s first wife and college sweetheart, Rose Swisher, is the mother of all three of his children. They got married in 1956 but divorced in 1973.
After that, Russell married Dorothy Anstett, a former beauty queen who won the Miss USA pageant in 1968. However, their marriage only lasted for three years before they divorced in 1980.
In 1996, Russell married his third wife, Marilyn Nault, and they were together until her death in 2009.
At the time of his death, Russell was married to his latest wife, Jeannine.
What makes Bill Russell so famous?
Bill Russell is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time and has numerous achievements to his name. Here are some of his notable accomplishments:
- Won 11 NBA championships with the Boston Celtics (1957, 1959-1966, 1968, 1969)
- Five-time NBA Most Valuable Player (1958, 1961-1963, 1965)
- 12-time NBA All-Star (1958-1969)
- Two-time NCAA champion with the University of San Francisco (1955, 1956)
- Two-time Olympic gold medalist (1956, 1960)
- Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1975
- Named one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players in 1996
- Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, in 2011
Bill Russell – Net Worth and Earnings
During his NBA career, Bill Russell became one of the league’s first high earners. In 1956, his rookie contract was worth $24,000, only slightly less than the $25,000 earned by his teammate and top earner Bob Cousy. Unlike many of his Celtics teammates who worked part-time during the offseason to maintain their standard of living, Russell never had to. When Wilt Chamberlain became the first player to earn $100,000 in salary in 1965, Russell demanded a salary of $100,001 and received it. As a coach, the Celtics paid Russell an annual salary of $25,000 on top of his player salary, although it is unclear if his $100,001 salary as a player was included in the calculation. Russell also had a shoe designed for him by Bristol Manufacturing Corporation in 1966 called the Bill Russell Professional Basketball Shoe.
Bill Russell passed away peacefully at his home in Mercer Island, Washington, on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88. The announcement of his death was made by his family on Twitter. In response, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement calling Russell “the greatest champion in all of team sports.”