Lincoln, NE-The Nebraska education community is mourning the profound loss of Russell Earl “Russ” Hicks, a lifelong educator and visionary administrator, who passed away peacefully on Monday morning, June 16, at the age of 84. A longtime resident of Lincoln and formerly of Beatrice, Hicks devoted more than four decades of his life to shaping and strengthening Nebraska’s public schools — a legacy that will continue to impact generations to come.
Over a 41-year career in education, Hicks served with unwavering commitment as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent, guiding students and colleagues with wisdom, integrity, and compassion. His influence stretched across four school systems: Waco Public Schools, District OR-1 at Palmyra and Bennet, Tri County Public Schools, and Johnson-Brock Public Schools.
Hicks earned his master’s degree in 1974 and a specialist degree in 1981, both from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. But it was in his day-to-day interactions — in hallways, classrooms, school board meetings, and small-town auditoriums — where his leadership truly shined.
In 1984, Hicks was elected president of the Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals, followed by his role as chair of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators in 1985. That same year, the U.S. Office of Education honored Tri County Secondary School — under Hicks’s leadership — as one of the top 200 schools in the nation.
Throughout his distinguished career, Hicks was the recipient of numerous awards, including:
The Administrator Distinguished Service Award from the Nebraska Counselor’s Association (1986)
Nebraska Secondary Principal of the Year (1986)
Multiple Distinguished Service Awards from both state principal and administrator associations
The Outstanding Administrator Award by the Nebraska Rural Community School Association (2003)
While his list of accolades was long, Hicks often redirected the praise to others. He was quick to credit his success to the “great students, dedicated school personnel, loyal community support, and his understanding family.”
Russ Hicks was more than a school administrator — he was a mentor, a pillar of the educational community, and a quiet champion of rural schools. His influence extended beyond policies and programs, touching lives with empathy, humor, and high expectations rooted in care.
A public visitation will be held Thursday, June 19, from 12:00–5:00 PM at Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice, followed by a family greeting from 5:30–7:30 PM at Centenary United Methodist Church. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, preceded by a family prayer service. Burial at Oak Grove Cemetery in DeWitt will follow at a later date.
In honor of Russ’s lifelong commitment to education, memorials have been established to benefit the Diller-Odell, Johnson-Brock, and Palmyra-Bennet School Foundations, as well as the Tri-County FFA program.
As Nebraska bids farewell to a titan in education, the memory of Russ Hicks will live on — not just in awards or accolades, but in the hearts of those he taught, mentored, and inspired across a lifetime of service.