Benjamin Russell High School

Benjamin Russell High School is in Alexander City, Alabama. It is part of Alexander City Schools. It is at 225 Heard Boulevard. In 2025, a new high school building was under construction. The school is named for an entrepreneur whose businesses include Russell Athletic.
In 2025 it had 813 students in grades 9 to 12. It had 16 sports teams and 19 clubs. Wildcats are the school's
mascot.
The student body is about 40 percent white and black and 11 percent hispanic.

History

The school was first established in 1950. In 1960, a $285,000 auditorium was built as part of a $100 million school construction bond issue. Black students attended Laurel High School in it merged with Russell in 1971.
In 1971, the school received national attention after students created an informal business called "spook insurance." Homeowners would pay the students a fee of $1.00 for free cleanup services if their houses were vandalized on Halloween. The school was racially integrated following the merger of two other high schools that same year.

Athletics

Kirk Johnson is the football team's
coach since 2025. Danny Horn coached the team from 2009 to 2018 before moving on to Clay County High School where he won six state championships. Steve Savareae also coached the team.

Alumni

Terrell Owens, football wide receiver
Willie Martin, football player in the CFL and football coach
Eric Brock, football defensive back
Scottie Vines, football wide receiver
Robert Parker, football running back
Nathan Poole, football running back
Red Phillips, football player
Malcolm Simmons, football player
Jim Whatley, baseball player