Russell Wightman:
CLASS OF 1979
Richfield Springs Central High SchoolClass of 1979
Richfield springs, NY
Russell's Story
Life
After leaving RSCS, spent 3 yrs in the military serving both in the US and Germany. After that, spent a year doing a couple of different jobs before joining the New York State Deptartment of Correctional Services, working throughout the state for the next 25 years.
I have remained single (by choice) and never had kids so, yes, I am a certified genius, thank you very much. :-D
As far as hobbies and the like, that depends on what stage of my life I was passing through at the time: As a state peace officer, I got into competition handgun shooting from the mid 80's to mid 90's in the sport of Police Pistol Combat (or simply PPC) where I competed extensively throughout NY, as well as shooting in NJ, the Unites States Secret Service Academy in Maryland, the International Police Olympics in Columbus, Ohio, and even went to the National Police Shooting Championships in Jackson, Mississippi one year. In the ten years that I competed, I was lucky enough to have a turn as a winner of the New York State PPC Championship, multiple wins at the annual State of New York Police Olympics and assorted PPC matches, and as a member of the New York Police Combat Association, I was fortunate enough to be ranked as one of the top 20 pistol shooters in NY State, known as the "Governor's Twenty" list, in every year that I was a member of that organization.
In the early 90's, I moved on to something a little more physical and took up karate, eventually progressing to the rank of black belt before a promotion at work took me out of the area and, unfortunately, never got back into it--something I still miss, both in mind and (I'm sorry to admit) body.
I also spent a couple of years competing in archery, both indoor target and outdoor 3-D, before moving on to my current love (or curse, depending on how my day went) which is golf. I would categorize myself a golf nut, although my job kept me from getting out nearly as much as I would have liked. I also wish I could say I was good at it but unfortunately, as far as my expertise with the clubs goes, I never should have given up shooting. :-D
School
Not much to reminisce about, as far as my school years goes.
My biggest regrets were losing touch with Bill, Randy, Charlene (RIP, girl), Ginny, and the gang when I left for the service.
College
College? I dont bee needin no fansy skoolin...
Military
Left RSCS to join the army in '79, going through basic and advanced military police ...Expand for more
training at Fort McClellan, AL.
Spent 18 months assigned to patrol Fort Dix, NJ, but during that time was also deployed to Wisconsin for a six month tour working with the Cuban refugees of Fidel Castro's Mariel Boatlift in 1980. Also deployed on missions that same year that included providing security at West Point Military Academy for the returning hostages of the 1979 American Embassy takeover in Iran.
Spent the remainder of my hitch in Geissen, West Germany in '81-'82 (remember back when Germany was two countries?) at a NATO storage facility before ending up back in the states.
Workplace
Became a state Correction Officer with the New York State Deptartment of Correctional Services in 1983, starting my career at the notorious Sing Sing Correctional Facility before working my way back home when Mid-State Correctional Facility opened that same year in Marcy, NY. Eventually I also worked in the area at both the Mohawk and Oneida CF's in Rome, NY during the next 15 years as an officer, eight of which I spent as Department instructor after becoming a certified NY State police firearms/chemical agents/baton instuctor.
In '97, I shuffled off to Buffalo, literally, when I was promoted to the rank of sergeant before eventually ending up back home in central NY. In my line of work, to take a promotion you go wherever the opening is at any one of New York's 69 prisons, then you have to work your way back home by seniority as vacancies open up (fun, huh?)
2003 found me reaching the rank of lieutenant (and a return trip to Sing Sing, of all places!) After spending another 14 months on the road, I returned to Mid-State where I spent 3 years as the afternoon shift Watch Commander, responsible for the day-to-day operations for the entire prison (and the occasional inmate fight, stabbing, slashing, staff assault, medical emergency, arson fire...well, you get the idea), where I commanded 10 sergeants, 110 officers, and 1,650 convicted felons. In '07, I moved to the position of Disciplinary Hearings Lieutenant--the designated staff member who, literally, holds court over inmates charged with violating Department rules and regulations, where I happily counted the days until I called it a career in August '08.
During my adventure with the state, I worked at eight of New York's 69 state prisons, including the maximum security facilities of Eastern (located in Napanoch, NY), Sing Sing (Ossining, NY), and Auburn (Auburn, NY.)
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Register for Free to view all yearbooks!
Reunions
Register for Free to start a reunion event!
Photos
