Russell Mawby remembered for compassion

If there's a name as well known in Battle Creek as Kellogg, it might be Mawby.

Russell Mawby, philanthropist and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation from 1970 to 1995, died Friday. He was 89.

“Russ was known for his dedicated service, for his leadership in philanthropy and his compassion and generosity in Battle Creek, throughout Michigan and around the world,” W.K. Kellogg Foundation CEO La June Montgomery Tabron said in an announcement from the foundation Monday.

That compassion was something that quickly came to mind for Battle Creek Community Foundation President and CEO Brenda Hunt.

"The first thing about Russ that stands out is leadership," Hunt said. "But you know, particularly these last 15 years in working with Russ, what really stands out with me is his compassion, and sitting down with him and working through his philanthropy ideas in his retirement days and different projects that we did together, and just how heartfelt he was in each one of those."

Tabron told the Enquirer Mawby was her mentor when she began at the foundation, and she draws a line from him to former CEOs William Richardson and Sterling Speirn to herself.

It's a line that runs through humbleness and service, Tabron said.

"Now I’m running his last mile for children and families," Tabron said.

Mawby was a foundation trustee until 2000 and he wanted others to learn how to do what he did. He created learning centers for philanthropy at Grand Valley State University and Indiana University.

Mawby launched the Michigan Community Foundations’ Youth Project in 1991 which, the foundation said, has led to $33 million given in grants from Michigan-based youth advisory councils since then.

His work has been felt abroad and at home. In 2014, retiring Binder Park Zoo CEO Greg Geise said Mawby was one of the "mighty oaks" that helped launch the zoo.

In 1995, when Mawby retired and 1,200 people came to a party in honor of him and his wife, Ruth Mawby, President Bill Clinton sent a letter of congratulations.

Tabron said many in Michigan will be remembering Mawby now.

"As the days continue, we’re going to find notes, I think from all across the state in academia, and philanthropy, and business and government," Tabron said.

But in the end, it's not about Mawby.

When Tabron became CEO of the foundation, she said, she had T-shirts made because of something she learned from the man she said was a mentor.

"The front of the T-shirt says, 'It’s not about me, and it’s not about you,'" Tabron said. "The back of the t-shirt says, 'It’s all about the children.' I got that T-shirt from Russ Mawby and how he led this organization."

Contact Andy Fitzpatrick at 269-966-0697 or afitzpatrick@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @am_fitzpatrick.

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If you go

Russell Mawby's visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Friday at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 105 Capital Ave. N.E. There will be a celebration of life service at 11 a.m. Saturday at YMCA Sherman Lake Outdoor Center, 6225 North 39th St., Augusta.