Mr. Russell was born to Charles and Alice Russell in 1921 in Troy, NC, one of seven brothers and sisters. He graduated from Star School and worked for Hudson-Belk and Moore’s department stores in Asheboro briefly before going to Newport News, VA to work in shipbuilding. In 1942 he entered the Marine Corps and served three-and-a-half years on board the USS Hermitage as it sailed around the world transporting WW II troops. In 1945, Mr. Russell returned to Montgomery County, married Connie Harvelle of Asheboro, started a hosiery mill, and raised three children in Mt. Gilead. He served on the Mt. Gilead Town Board from 1950 to 1954 and also helped to organize a county-wide volunteer Fire Commission during this period. For 30 years he was a volunteer fireman serving as chief for about 25 of those years, and was instrumental in the building of two fire stations and the purchase of numerous fire trucks and equipment. Mr. Russell was a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner, a member of the American Legion and served on the Mt. Gilead School and West Montgomery High School Boards. A Civitan since the early 50s, he had also been president of that club. As a lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church, he served prominently on its building committee and other committees through the years. Mr. Russell passed away in 2001.