RETRO BILL USES LAUGHTER TO KEEP PORT ST.LUCIE KIDS FROM DRUGS

PORT ST. LUCIE -- With hair like Elvis Presley and a flame-emblazoned
jacket and sneakers, Retro Bill had about 500 students laughing in a
humorous Thursday show that highlighted serious subjects, including making
good choices and the dangers of doing drugs.

"If you can get a kid determined in third, fourth, fifth grade to not want
to do drugs, to want to get an education, to want to grow up and make their
dreams come true, you empower them," said Retro, whose real name is Bill
Russ. "By being empowered and educated and informed, they're going to make
better choices in high school." The stop at Port St. Lucie Elementary
School was one of several in Russ's two-day schedule that ends today. Russ,
40, is a weekly contributor on a nationally syndicated radio program and is
the official D.A.R.E. "Safety Buddy."

Russ's animated style, sound effects and humorous tales frequently produced
bursts of laughter.

In one instance, he said a kid once called him a dork.

"I am not," Russ recalled. "He said, 'Yeah, you are,' and I said (no), and
he goes, 'How do you know?' I said, 'I had my mom show me my birth
certificate. It did not say dumb, stupid, ugly or dork.'"

Another time, he said a kid made fun of his slender build.

"He goes, 'Retro Bill's so skinny if he stood in front of the flag pole we
couldn't see him,'" Russ said. "I was like, 'Well, you better not play hide
and go seek with me, I'd win.'"

Holly Schrader, 10, said she enjoyed the presentation.

"I think it's really good for the kids and younger people," the fifth-
grader said. "Some people don't know what they're doing so it'll teach them
what not to do and what to do."