88R7129 EME-D
By: Springer S.R. No. 57
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A life dedicated to serving his community and his
nation drew to a close with the death of Earl Leslie Russell III of
Gainesville on July 20, 2022, at the age of 78; and
WHEREAS, "Rusty" Russell was born at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, on
January 25, 1944, to Earl and Laura Russell and grew up with two
siblings, Robert and Jane; he was an Eagle Scout, and he served in
the ROTC program from middle school through college; after
graduating from Fort Hays State University, he was commissioned as
a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, and he served two tours of
duty in Vietnam as an army pilot, flying reconnaissance and
artillery spotting missions; his commendations included the
Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, the Army
Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and two Cross of
Gallantry medals with silver star; he was honorably discharged in
1975 at the rank of major; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Russell met his wife, Jan, on a blind date, and
the couple were married in 1966 and were eventually blessed with a
son, Lee; they opened a real estate firm in Manhattan, Kansas, and
in 1982, they settled in Gainesville, where Mr. Russell worked for
a quarter century with the financial firm of Edward Jones; a leader
in his community, he sat on the boards of the Gainesville Municipal
Airport, the North Texas Medical Center, the First United Methodist
Church, the State Bar of Texas Professional Ethics Committee, and
the Boy Scouts of America Longhorn Council; he was a Past Master
with Gainesville Masonic Lodge No. 210 and a lifelong supporter of
the Boy Scouts, serving for many years as leader of Troop 668 in
Gainesville; and
WHEREAS, Rusty Russell lived a rich and purposeful life
devoted to his loved ones, his community, and his nation, and he
leaves behind a record of service that his loved ones can remember
with pride; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature,
hereby pay tribute to the memory of Earl Leslie Russell III and
extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife
of 55 years, Janice Kay Russell; to his son, Earl Leslie Russell IV;
to his siblings, Robert Russell and his wife, Pam, and Jane McMurray
and her husband, Brad; to his brother-in-law, John Klusener, and
sister-in-law, Laura Klusener; and to his other relatives and many
friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this
day, it do so in memory of Rusty Russell.