Russell was a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives between 1947 and 1951. A Democrat from Okmulgee County, Russell served as speaker pro tempore in 1949. In 1952, Russell was elected to the Oklahoma Senate. After leaving the state legislature, Russell became attorney for Wagoner County. He was named assistant district attorney in 1972, and promoted to district attorney four years later, serving Adair, Cherokee, Sequoyah, and Wagoner counties until retirement in 1983. Russell was active in local civic organizations based in Wagoner, Oklahoma, and a Scottish Rite Freemason. He died in Ponca City, Oklahoma, on December 5, 2015, aged 92.[1]