The moment Mr. Russell was surprised with his retirement package was captured in a tear-jerking video posted to the school’s Instagram page. In the footage, the elderly janitor stands stunned, trembling as Clark hugs him tightly and whispers, “You’ve always taken care of us. Now it’s our turn.”
Within hours, the video had been shared by ESPN, Bleacher Report, and dozens of celebrities. NBA legends like Magic Johnson and Dwyane Wade reposted the video, praising Clark’s character and reminding the world that true greatness extends far beyond the hardwood.
“Caitlin Clark has the heart of a champion—on and off the court,” Magic Johnson wrote. “This is what leadership looks like.”
Clark’s gesture sparked conversations around the country about underappreciated school staff and elderly workers who continue to work past retirement age out of necessity.
Soon after the story broke, Clark’s agent revealed that she had committed to donating part of her upcoming NIL earnings to a scholarship fund for support staff children in Iowa public schools.
“She wants to keep this going,” the agent said. “To Caitlin, Mr. Russell represents countless unsung heroes across the country.”
Mr. Russell’s Reaction: “I Never Expected This”
For his part, James Russell was overwhelmed.
“I never expected this,” he told a local news outlet through tears. “I’ve watched Caitlin grow from a little girl with a big dream to the most incredible young woman. I thought she’d forget about this old janitor. But she didn’t. That means more to me than I can say.”
He ended the interview by showing off a photo of him and Clark from 2018. “Back then, I told her she was going to change the world. Guess I was right.”
Caitlin Clark has made her mark in sports history, but perhaps her most powerful legacy is being written not through points scored, but through lives touched. In a world hungry for role models, she didn’t just honor a janitor—she elevated an entire generation’s understanding of what it means to be human.
As for Mr. Russell, he’ll finally take that fishing trip this summer. And thanks to one extraordinary former student, he’ll do it not out of obligation—but in peace, dignity, and well-deserved joy.
