Last week, Holland Hall graduate Russell A. LaCour ’75 was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame. LaCour has enjoyed a nearly 30-year, award-winning career in print and in radio. He worked at several radio stations before joining the Tulsa World for 17 years as a copy editor while also being a local leader in mentoring young journalists.

Russell A. LaCour at 2026 Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Edmond. LaCour is a 1975 graduate of Holland Hall.

LaCour is a founder and former director of the National Association of Black Journalists High School Journalism Workshop, now in its 17th year.

He has served on the NABJ’s board as a region director, as well as serving as a state director and as president of NABJ-Tulsa’s local chapter for 17 years. He is in the Oklahoma Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame.

Currently, he is Vice President – Print for the National Association of Black Journalists-Tulsa and also a freelance writer for The Oklahoma Eagle.

Following Holland Hall, Russell attended Northwestern University and Tulsa Junior College before earning a B.S. in Telecommunications from the University of Tulsa in 1987.

Russell is married with four children. We caught up with Russell on Thursday at this week’s Hall of Fame banquet and asked him to reflect on his Holland Hall career:

Which teacher made an impact on you: Judy Love Harrison had the greatest impact on me. I thought I could skate through her math class in my junior year without putting in the work. She taught me that life rewarded work to achieve success, rather than living on laurels. I thought I was invincible and untouchable. She gave me a D. It was probably my toughest lesson there.

Finish this sentence: Holland Hall was great for me because: It allowed me to experience firsthand life with those thought to be the best and the brightest. Holland Hall gave me the opportunity to try to accomplish just about anything put in front of me. Life-long learning has kept me functioning even with the pace of change we face daily. The faculty and students taught me not to fear challenges and helped me build confidence and an adaptive nature about both life and leadership.