[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 29, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E276-E277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE HONORABLE JOSEPH L. RUSSELL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 29, 2023

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, as family, friends, and the community gather 
to celebrate the life of the Honorable Joseph ``Joe'' L. Russell, 
Retired Attorney at Law and College Professor, former Military Judge 
and California Administrative Law Judge, I ask my colleagues to join me 
in remembering this extraordinary and generous businessman, community 
and civic leader throughout the County of Sacramento and the State of 
California.
  Mr. Russell entered eternal rest on Monday, March 13, 2023 at the age 
of 80 with wife and family at his side. Today he is being celebrated at 
the historical landmark Shiloh Baptist Church in Sacramento, 
California, the Reverend Anthony R. Sadler Pastor presiding.
  Born November 17, 1942, in Birmingham, Alabama to Arlee and Eva Lou 
Russell where he attended; was ranked high in his class and graduated 
from Parker High School. Joe earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 
Political Science and Government at Howard University, in Washington 
DC. Joe earned his Jurist Doctorate Degree at Howard's School of Law. 
Upon graduating, he was commissioned as an officer in the United States 
Air Force where he was promoted to the rank of Captain prior to 
completing his tour of duty in the service of our country.
  Joe met Ida P. Avant in 1963. They were married in 1966 while she was 
completing her undergraduate degree at Howard University, and he was 
completing his first year of law school. After concluding his tour of 
duty with the Air Force, the young couple relocated to Sacramento, 
California in 1972 to join fellow law school graduate, the late Judge 
Jimmy Long. They have resided in Sacramento since relocating to the 
City where they raised their two sons: Joseph Russell, Jr. and Michael 
Russell.
  Joe was licensed and admitted to practice law before the following 
courts: United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals, 
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, United States 
District Court--Eastern District, United States District Court--
Northern District, United States Military Court (Attorney and Judge); 
United States Military Court of Appeals, Alabama State Bar Court, and 
the California State Bar Court.
  He has served the Sacramento Community, State of California and the 
United States of America as: a well-respected and beloved Military 
Judge, California Administrative Law Judge, Professor of law courses at 
California State University, Sacramento for more than 35 years, 
Attorney at Law, par excellence, for more than 40 years including 
private practice and as a Senior Deputy City Attorney/City Prosecutor 
for the City of Sacramento, Civil Leader, Deacon of Shiloh Baptist 
Church where he has been a very active member and faithful servant of 
the Lord for nearly 50 years. He was a devoted husband, father and 
grandfather, brother, uncle, mentor and friend to a multitude and with 
wife Ida, he was a world traveler.
  A partial list of Joe's community and civic service to our community 
include the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, the Sacramento Urban 
League, Sacramento Big Brothers and Sisters, the Brotherhood and Deacon 
Board of the Shiloh Baptist Church, and so many more. Many of Joe's 
contributions to make a safer and better place in which to live, work, 
recreate and worship freely are unknown to the public heretofore 
because he was such a humble person. Joe's passing is a great lost to 
the Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to stand with me today to honor the 
Honorable Joseph L. Russell for his life legacy and contribution to the 
Sacramento community.

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