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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 57
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In Memory |
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of |
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Rusty Russell |
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WHEREAS, A life dedicated to serving his community and his |
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nation drew to a close with the death of Earl Leslie Russell III |
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of Gainesville on July 20, 2022, at the age of 78; and |
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WHEREAS, "Rusty" Russell was born at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, |
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on January 25, 1944, to Earl and Laura Russell and grew up with |
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two siblings, Robert and Jane; he was an Eagle Scout, and he |
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served in the ROTC program from middle school through college; |
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after graduating from Fort Hays State University, he was |
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commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, and he |
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served two tours of duty in Vietnam as an army pilot, flying |
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reconnaissance and artillery spotting missions; his |
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commendations included the Distinguished Flying Cross with one |
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oak leaf cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf |
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cluster, and two Cross of Gallantry medals with silver star; he |
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was honorably discharged in 1975 at the rank of major; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Russell met his wife, Jan, on a blind date, |
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and the couple were married in 1966 and were eventually blessed |
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with a son, Lee; they opened a real estate firm in Manhattan, |
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Kansas, and in 1982, they settled in Gainesville, where |
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Mr. Russell worked for a quarter century with the financial firm |
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of Edward Jones; a leader in his community, he sat on the boards |
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of the Gainesville Municipal Airport, the North Texas Medical |
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Center, the First United Methodist Church, the State Bar of Texas |
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Professional Ethics Committee, and the Boy Scouts of America |
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Longhorn Council; he was a Past Master with Gainesville Masonic |
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Lodge No. 210 and a lifelong supporter of the Boy Scouts, serving |
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for many years as leader of Troop 668 in Gainesville; and |
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WHEREAS, Rusty Russell lived a rich and purposeful life |
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devoted to his loved ones, his community, and his nation, and he |
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leaves behind a record of service that his loved ones can |
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remember with pride; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Earl Leslie |
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Russell III and extend sincere condolences to the members of his |
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family: to his wife of 55 years, Janice Kay Russell; to his son, |
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Earl Leslie Russell IV; to his siblings, Robert Russell and his |
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wife, Pam, and Jane McMurray and her husband, Brad; to his |
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brother-in-law, John Klusener, and sister-in-law, Laura |
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Klusener; and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns |
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this day, it do so in memory of Rusty Russell. |
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Springer |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on January 24, 2023, by |
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a rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |