Past Sovereign Grand Commander 14 th Sovereign Grand Commander of the United Supreme Council, Ancient The Sovereign Grand Commanders Athlete, leader, entrepreneur, professional, and renown Pharmacist, the legacy of Dr. Russell Sidney Gideon is second to none. He was born to the union of James and Elizabeth Gideon on October 9, 1904, in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada. The family of five moved westward over 4,000 kilometers to Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1912. By 1919, both of his parents had met their demise forcing Russell and his sisters to mature at an early age. Russell found employment at the McDermid Drug Company store in downtown Calgary as a delivery boy while also earning extra income playing drums in a local orchestra. These early-life, character-building experiences served as the drivers for the progress and determination that would define the rest of life.
While working at the drug store and participating in concerts with his orchestra band, Russell made time for athletics. He was very active in track and field, rugby, hockey and baseball. He played center field for the 1923 Victoria Athletic Baseball
Club, a professional baseball team while serving as the t e am ma n a g e r . Considering that he was the only player of African descent on the
team, his ability to rise to the top based on his production was extraordinary. Also a professional hockey player for the Calgary Tigers, he earned particular note on the 1929 team as an “outstanding end”. His excellence showcased a strong work ethic and leadership skills that transferred well into his career path. In 1932, Russell left Calgary and moved to Boston, Massachusetts to pursue a career in Pharmacy. A student at Boston’s Patrick School of Pharmacy, he found love and new fraternal bonds. He met Lillian
Morris while attending school and they were married on December 16, 1934. He became a charter member of the Beta Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., the first undergraduate chapter in New England in 1935. He served as the charter Secretary-Treasurer
for the Chapter. In 1937, he enrolled at the Western
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