1962
Russell P. MacFall
(1903-1983)
Russell P. MacFall, a charter member of the International Wizard of Oz Club, was coauthor with Frank Joslyn Baum of To Please a Child, a biography of L. Frank Baum. Russell was eminently qualified to produce such a book, for he was a professional journalist who served many years as night editor of the Chicago Tribune. His guidance and prestige were invaluable to the Club in its formative years.
In 1967, Russell, a skilled parliamentarian for several other organizations, became president of the Oz Club. He served in that capacity until 1975. During his time as president and afterward, Russell helped strengthen the Club’s organization, leading a major rewriting of its bylaws. His wit, wisdom, and solid knowledge of Baum and Oz benefited the Oz conventions for many years.
In his last years, Russell and his wife Lucile retired to Coronado Island, across the bay from San Diego. He enjoyed showing visitors around the island, where he would point out a house the Baums rented on the island for a time and various features of the Hotel del Coronado, which had been a favorite winter resort of L. Frank Baum.