Thoughts on the Passing of Judge Dan Russell
As mentioned in yesterday's post, Mississippi federal Southern District Judge Dan Russell of Gulfport died on Saturday at the age of 98. Here is Judge Russell's obituary in the Clarion-Ledger. I read somewhere that he wrote it himself.
I did not know Judge Russell. But by all accounts from Gulfport residents who did know him, he was a real character.
And how he lived through interesting times. Russell was born in 1913 and grew up in Mississippi at a time when the state still felt the consequences of the destruction of the Civil War. He saw the Great Depression, World War I and II (where he served in the Navy), the Civil Rights Movement, man's progression from early flight to space travel, incredible progressions in technology, Hurricanes Camille and Katrina and the transformation of the Mississippi Gulf Coast from a sleepy little coastal area to a strip mall infested home of the casino industry.
Judge Russell was appointed to the federal bench in 1965 by President Lyndon Johnson. To put this in perspective, this was the year after the recently sworn-in Judge Carlton Reeves was born.
My cursory search on Lexis found opinions that Judge Russell wrote in 2007. So it appears that he was an active judge for over 40 years even though he was over 50 years old when appointed to the bench. That is an impressive record of public service that will be tough for anyone to match.
Both the federal courthouse in Gulfport and the street in from of the courthouse bear is name.
In a great example of how circular our lives can be, Judge Russell grew up in Gulfport in a small house which was located behind the old Gulfport High School. His former residential lot is now occupied by the parking lot for the US District Courthouse bearing the name "Dan M. Russell Federal Courthouse".
My father went with Judge Russell to his confirmation hearings in the early 60's. When they returned my grandfather picked them up at the airport told Judge Rusell: That's the only decision I every agreed with that Lyndon B. Johnson made!!
He was right!!! Judge Russell was as fine a person, lawyer and Judge that I have had the pleasure to know. He blessed with a great and long life. A true gentleman!!
I appeared before Judge Russell in many cases. He was a solid judge, a gentleman and a credit to the legal profession. I'd love to inherit his collection of sports coats, because he was a sharp dresser also.