User:Russ Huff

'''Russell J. Huff, born in 1936 in Chicago, Illinois, is best known for his series of books on aviation qualification badges. He is author of Wings of World War II, Companion to Wings of World War II, Winging It I and Winging It II, as well as the quarterly journal, Wings and Things of the World. He has a number of other books and magazine articles to his credit.

He graduated from grade school and high school in Chicago and went on to the University of Notre Dame in 1953. He graduated with honors from the university in 1958 with a degree in Philosophy. From 1958 to 1962 he attended the Universidad Catolica in Santiago, Chile, earning a degree in theology. During those formative years he learned Spanish, traveled widely throughout Latin America and served the Catholic Church as a seminarian and part time missionary. Upon ordination to the Priesthood in 1962, he returned to the United States. In the following years he completed studies at Loyola and DePaul universities in Chicago and then returned to Notre Dame. At that time he was named Executive Editor of the Catholic Boy and Miss magazines and served in that position for five years. During that period the magazines twice won the youth category for best magazine of the year. He also served during that time as Chaplain of the Latin American students on campus, as Alumni Hall chaplain, and became a member of several missionary organizations. In 1968 he earned a Masters degree in Communication Arts at Notre Dame.

In 1968 he was named Managing Editor of Nation's Schools, a McGraw-Hill publication. He married Beverly Diane Huff at the end of that year and lived in Willow Springs, Illinois. In 1970 Sears, Roebuck and Co. hired him as an assistant in the National News department and during that assignment became responsible the for national news on the new Sears Tower in downtown Chicago. He was promoted to Director of Public Relations for Homart Development Co. in 1971 and within two years became Vice President of Public Relations for Homart. At this time he became accredited as a Public Relations Society of America professional (APR). He was responsible for the promotion of new shopping centers in both the United States and Mexico. Among his responsibilities was the naming of some ten major malls around the US. After seven years in that position Sears prmoted him to Director of International Operations Public Relations and added him to the Sears Foundation. In these new responsibilities he traveled widely throughout Latin America and Europe, joined numerous international organizations and was named to the Who's Who in the World.

In 1982, Huff was lured away from Sears by an international mining venture, but later proved to be a short term opportunity. In the following year he and his wife departed Chicago, sent their daughter off to college in Texas, and went to Florida to begin several new adventures, including managing a large condomium on Siests Key, in Sarasota, earned both a salesman and broker license from the state, and entering upon several real estate developments.

Finally, in 1986, he decided to strike out on his own with R.J. Huff And Associates, a business established to promote and publish his aviation memorabilia interests. He published a series of books, became an international authority on aviation badges, and handled the buying and sellings of many major collections. This business has continued to 2010 and at that point he decided to retire (see www.thewingding. com)

Over the years Huff has traveled throughout Europe, Central and South America, has logged many thousands of miles on journies by air and sea, and has been influential in creating artist and historical displays that are found in museums and private collections.

On a personal basis, he has worked in his parish to develop strategies and teach care givers, and worked on numerous committees. He and his wife reside in Sarasota and have worn the wheels off two RVs and a van in the continual pursuit of aviation treasures. '''