The Bismarck tribune., 1931-06-12
EXECUTIVE IS SON
OF Chief JUSTICE
OF GEORGIA COURT
Richard Russell, Jr., Only 80
Years Old, Will Be lnauqu.
rated June "a
IS FOURTH OF 13 CHILDREN
Covernor-EIect Is Member OF
One Of States Most Prom.
inent Families
IS FOURTH OF 13 CHILDREN

nent Families
Atlanta. Ga, June 12.--1f Richard
B. Russell, Jr.. of Winder, Ga, turns
to his handsome. gray-haired father
Chief Justice Richard B. Russell, any
day after June "a and says, We'll
governor" the senior member of the
Russell family very likely will turn
right back and ask. We'll, governor.
what is it?"
For Richard, Jr-only 33 years old
ON June "a is going to become gov
ernor of Georgia and the youngest
governor In the United States. His
own father. Chief Justice Russell Of
the Georgia supreme court. will ad-
minister the oath of office at the
inauguration ceremonies.
Young Governor r-elect Russell, who
was elected last October. has other
distinctions. He Is bachelor. He is
one of l3 sons and daughters Of a
family whose forbears have lived
within the boundaries Of Georgia
since colonial times. He left the Uni
versity Of Georgia to enlist during the
World war. He made his first po-
litical campaign driving from house
to house in q secondhand automo-
bile.
On assuming the office Of chief
executive he gives up the post OF
speaker of the Georgia house Of rep
resentatives. He served as speaker
for three years.
His Plans as Governor
Some insight into the personality
Of this unusual young man may be
gained from the fact that he has
stated publicly he believes govern
ment should be simplified. Speaking
of the work of special legislative
committee of the General Assembly
not long ago he put his views thus:
The machinery OF government
should be SO simple that the hum
blest citizen can understand it. Here
In Georgia we have more than 100
different agencies to carry on the
there are very few who can sit down
with pen and paper and name them
all and outline the duties each Is
supposed to perform.
Coordinate and combine the de-
partments of state to a minimum"
he urges. land thus give the people
of the state the economical govern
ment Georgia today SO badly needs"
1t is doubtful if his own inaugura-
tion will make so glamorous an i'm
preston on Richard Russell, Jr.'s
mind as did visit to Atlanta when
he was nine. On that occasion Mas
ter Richard arrived as the guest OF
Governor and Mrs. Joseph B. Terrell,
intimate friends OF his father and
mother The boy slept in the COVER
nor's mansion and sat in the gover-
nor's chair at the capitol.
Started as Lawyer
Young Russell was graduated from
an agricultural and mechanical COL
lege in 1914. He spent a year at Cor
don Institute and attended the Uni
versity Of Georgia where he was grad
uated with an LIB. degree in 1913
He left school to enlist during the
World war After the armistice he
began practicing law at Winder.
In 1921 he was elected to repre-
sent Barrow county in the state legis-
lature and he has served in the house
of representatives continuously ever
since. During two terms he was
speaker pro tenn, and for three more
he was speaker. He has never been
defeated in an election.
When young Russell began his first
campaign for the legislature he hired
a secondhand automobile and visited
every family in his county. Judge
Russell. one of Georgia's Oldest and
most successful campaigners, gave his
son whole-hearted support. but did
not attempt to run his sons cam
paign.
One of IL Children
Mrs. Russell. his mother, tells an
amusing anecdote about Richard. Jr
He was the fourth of l3 living
brothers and sisters.
When he came into the world says
Mrs. Russell, I'VE had three daughters
and Judge Russell and myself rather
despaired of son. much as We loved
the little girls. DR.. c. B. Almond of
Winder was our family physician. He
was holding our first boy in his arms
when Judge Russell came in the room
timidly. With a broad grin DR.. Al
mond announced. It's a boy, Dick!'
Upon hearing this news the judge
gave the doctor such clap on the
back he almost knocked him across
the room and the baby barely escaped
being dropped on It's head Right
then the youngster was informally
christened Richard Brevard Russell
Jr"
The boy was reared in an atmos-
phere Of politics. His father. who
was once a defeated candidate for
governor, served in the state legisla-
ture as young man and was solicitor
general of the western circuit from
1889 to 1906 In 1907 he was elected
to the Georgia court Of appeals. From
1918 to 1916 he retired to practice
law. Reehtering public life in 1923,
Judge Russell was elected chief JUS
tice Of the Georgia supreme court.
The Russell boys-brothers Of tho
-elect-have met with sue
cess. Robert Lee Russell is Richard,
p. - wk%,ov YYo,>~1y TIu,n 81