2023 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 198
BY SENATORS CORTEZ, ABRAHAM, ALLAIN, BARROW, BERNARD,
BOUDREAUX, BOUIE, CARTER, CATHEY, CLOUD, CONNICK,
DUPLESSIS, FESI, FIELDS, FOIL, HARRIS, HENRY, HENSGENS,
HEWITT, JACKSON, KLEINPETER, LAMBERT, LUNEAU,
MCMATH, MILLIGAN, FRED MILLS, ROBERT MILLS, MIZELL,
MORRIS, PEACOCK, POPE, PRICE, REESE, SMITH, STINE,
TALBOT, TARVER, WHITE AND WOMACK
A RESOLUTION
To commend Debra Russell for her many years of dedicated public service to the state of
Louisiana, in particular, her forty-four years of loyal commitment and service to the
Louisiana Senate and to congratulate her upon the occasion of her well-deserved
retirement.
WHEREAS, Debra Russell has been a fixture at the Louisiana State Capitol and has
provided exemplary service to the Senate for over forty-four years, beginning her career at
the capitol in 1979, after a two-year stint in the executive branch; and
WHEREAS, she served under the leadership of nine Senate Presidents, including
Michael H. O'Keefe, Samuel B. Nunez Jr., Allen R. Bares, Randy Ewing, John J. Hainkel
Jr., Donald E. Hines, M.D., Joel T. Chaisson II, John A. Alario Jr., and Patrick "Page"
Cortez; and
WHEREAS, with her affable demeanor and unforgettable, joyful laugh, Debra
embodies the essence of an ideal legislative staffer and a devoted public servant, and the
example she set will carry on for years to come by those who had the pleasure and honor of
working with her; and
WHEREAS, Debra is the second of six children, and the only daughter, born to
Joseph Canale and Anginette Garafola Canale of Independence, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, being raised with her five brothers, she learned early in life from her
mother how to raise a family and put the needs of others before her own, and these qualities,
which Debra personifies, contributed to the formation of many sincere and rich relationships,
both professional and personal; and
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WHEREAS, in May of 1977, she graduated from Independence Girls High School
in Independence, Louisiana, and later that year, on August 6, 1977, she married the love of
her life, Richard Russell; and
WHEREAS, on April 2, 1979, Debra began her illustrious career and life's work at
the Louisiana Senate; and
WHEREAS, it was under the tutelage of Sylvia Duke that Debra mastered the
numerous responsibilities that she was entrusted to perform throughout her career; and
WHEREAS, Debra Russell, Sylvia Duke, and Beverly Walton, the Senate's former
dietician and chef, through their devoted service to the Louisiana Senate, became the best
of friends, and the trio enjoyed working side-by-side through the long, hard days of session
and loved traveling together outside of work to visit beautiful homes and destinations
throughout the United States with Debra as their driver; and
WHEREAS, it was in 1988 that Debra's "work husband" arrived at the state capitol,
and over the last thirty-five years, they became known as "Cliff and Debra"; far too many
times to count, together they seamlessly accomplished, what seemed nearly impossible to
most, behind-the-scene projects that improved the quality and function of the Senate; and
WHEREAS, Debra would describe her job as "light bulbs and toilets", but that
description does not even scratch the surface of her numerous contributions to the Senate,
including members and staff; and
WHEREAS, Debra's duties include but are in no way limited to meeting the needs
of thirty-nine Senators and numerous staff on a daily basis; ensuring sockets, lights, and
lamps have working electricity; packing and painting offices and moving furniture in the
capitol, and then re-packing and re-painting offices and re-moving furniture over and over
again; potting plants and exterminating rodents, snakes, and ants; coordinating general
maintenance and housekeeping of the Senate areas of the Louisiana State Capitol, Capitol
Annex, and Pentagon Barracks buildings with various state agencies as well as coordinating
maintenance and construction projects on the same properties with buildings and grounds
personnel and private contractors; maintaining inventory for all Senate property, including
property located in each of the thirty-nine Senate district offices; alerting members and staff
to freshly steamed and cleaned carpet by strategically placing bright orange construction
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cones; keeping stock of ample supplies of water, juices, soda and creamers, sugars, and
honey for the pots of fresh, hot coffee; and providing necessary amenities to members and
staff, including an endless candy jar during session, medicine to cure a myriad of ailments,
toothbrushes, Neosporin, and Band-aids; and
WHEREAS, a typical day for Debra could begin with cleaning toilets; in the
afternoon, she could be setting up a lunch for Senators and their guests; and then late in the
evening, she could be removing carpet from a hallway where one of the toilets that she
cleaned that morning overflowed; and
WHEREAS, Debra's talents and abilities transcended the seasons as she played a
vital role in beautifully decorating the state capitol for Christmas and special events,
including inauguration; and
WHEREAS, she has left an indelible mark on this body's rich history in the halls and
on the walls of the Senate, from the placement of artifacts and paintings and the Louisiana
state seal as carpet medallions, to the pictures of presidents of the Senate and the numerous
framed collages of Senate members and their families and Senate staff, past and present; and
WHEREAS, the love that Debra has for her very large but tight-knit family is no
secret, and since the passing of her mother in 1997, Debra became the matriarch of her
family and never misses a birthday or a special event involving her immediate family; and
WHEREAS, Debra and Richard have one daughter, Brittany, and there is no question
that she is the apple of their eye; being able to work closely with her daughter and best friend
on a daily basis from 2007 to 2023 was one of the greatest joys of Debra's life and will be
a memory she will cherish forever; and
WHEREAS, it was to Debra's office that many staff ran when they needed a listening
ear from a friend, sound advice on a matter, a strong shoulder to cry on, or a cheerleader to
celebrate an engagement, a new baby, or any piece of good news; and
WHEREAS, in retirement, Debra plans to spend time with her family, including her
precious grandsons, Benjamin and Samuel, who affectionately call her "Nonna", attend
family gatherings, including the annual Canale Christmas, and watch Benjamin and Samuel
play sports anywhere and everywhere, and she looks forward to reminiscing with friends she
holds dear; and
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WHEREAS, when not enjoying family time, Debra enjoys "everything LSU"
including attending Bengal Belles events, Tiger tailgates and games, and watching the Lady
Tigers play basketball, a tradition handed down from her mother who kept clippings of the
then up-and-coming, Kim Mulkey, a 5'4" hometown hero who started her basketball career
at a middle school in Tickfaw, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, to her Senate family, Debra's retirement came too early and the
workplace will never be the same, as we will miss the tremendous difference her friendship,
support, and love meant to us, including all the wonderful moments with her, especially the
humor and chats that she so lovingly shared with so many of us, and it is with love and
sincerest gratitude, that Senators and staff wish Debra Russell all the best in her future
endeavors.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend Debra Russell on her many years of dedicated public service to the
state of Louisiana, in particular, her forty-four years of loyal commitment and service to the
Louisiana Senate and congratulate her upon the occasion of her well-deserved retirement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Debra Russell.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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