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Automotive Collision Repair and Refinishing

Faculty and Staff

Trevor Pickens

Coordinator/Clinical Instructor

Office: Roy F. Christensen Complex B2-63

208- 282-3305

trevorpickens@isu.edu

Russel Butler, Coordinator / Instructor Automotive Collision Repair and Refinishing

Russell Butler

Clinical Sr. Instructor

Office: Roy F. Christensen Complex B2-63

208- 282-3305

butlruss@isu.edu

Professional Work Experience

  • Over thirty years in the Auto Body industry as a Painter, Body Tech, Shop Foreman and Estimator
  • Instructor and Program Coordinator at ISU College of Technology – 20 years

Career Highlights

  • With 7 full time students, built a 1959 Ford Fairlane Galaxie 500 Skyliner in 8 weeks
  • Restoration Projects of many 1960s and 1970s muscle cars with emphasis on the Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am
  • Race Car Builder and Driver racing all across the west in Stock Car and Road Racing events

A Favorite Experience

I was approached by a man that wanted to hire me to build a 1970 Pontiac Trans Am. He said that when he was a little boy, his dad bought a 1970 Trans Am brand new (as the family car), and he had great memories of how that car looked and drove. After a time of negotiation and working out the expectations, we agreed on a plan that would suit us both with him getting the car he wanted and me building the car of my dreams. As one of the requirements of the deal, he said that his dad now owned a Ferrari and that the Trans Am had to be faster than the Ferrari and be able to beat it in a race! The next year was an amazing opportunity to find, build and deliver such a special car to this man. As a side note, the cars never did race, but I got to drive both of them, and yes the Trans Am would have won.

Photo of Russ Butler's race car