Russell Dale Martin (October 4, 1960 – February 27, 2021) was an American radio presenter in Dallas, Texas. He worked in the Dallas radio market for 31 years. Martin hosted the No. 1-rated The Russ Martin Show on KLLI Live 105.3 in Dallas, until December 8, 2008, when KLLI switched to an all-sports format. On July 12, 2010, Martin returned to radio with his afternoon (3:00p.m.7:00p.m.) show on 97.1 "The Eagle" (KEGL). Early life and career Martin grew up in Pleasant Grove, a large, working-class neighborhood in southeast Dallas, where he graduated from W.W. Samuell High School. Martin's radio career began in the at KGVL in Greenville, Texas, working 6:00p.m. to midnight running the board for religious programs. In , Martin was hired by KTLR in Terrell, Texas, to play country music on weekends. A year later, in , he was hired by KAAM in Dallas as a part-time weekend disc jockey. In , Martin was hired for another part-time position by the Satellite Music Network for an oldies format, and later worked part-time for Z-Rock while still working at KAAM and KAFM. In Martin was hired by Top 40 station KEGL, The Eagle, in Dallas. He also hosted a talk show on Sunday nights at KEGL. He hosted the television shows Hot TV and Hot Tickets which ran from to on the then local FOX affiliate KDAF. The Russ Martin Show The first incarnation of The Russ Martin Show began following the departure of The Howard Stern Show from KEGL. In 1997 he was asked to fill morning drive time slot. Within two years, Martin's ratings had surpassed those of Dallas veteran radio personality Ron Chapman. In 2000, Martin left KEGL following a contract dispute. The Russ Martin Show reappeared on KYNG, a station that had previously been country-western music. Martin began his first show at KYNG on April 6, 2000, once again filling the morning drive time slot. When Howard Stern was picked up by KYNG, The Russ Martin Show moved from its morning drive slot to 3:00p.m.7:00p.m. In 2003, KYNG changed its call letters to KLLI and took on the Live 105.3 branding. The Russ Martin Show had consistently high ratings for KLLI since his show debuted on 105.3. In August 2005, D Magazine named Martin best radio talk show host in the DFW area. In December 2008, Live 105.3 changed its format to include more live