“R” is for Russell, Donald Stewart (1906-1998)

“R” is for Russell, Donald Stewart (1906-1998). University president, governor, U.S. senator, jurist. As a protégé of James F. Byrnes, Russell had a successful career in government and the law. From 1951 to 1957 he served as president of the University of South Carolina. In 1958 he lost the 1958 Democratic Party primary for governor, but four years later again ran for governor and was elected. Following the death of U. S. Senator Olin D. Johnston, Russell resigned the governorship and the state's new governor appointed him to fill Johnston's seat. Russell served in the Senate until 1966 when he was defeated in a special election. In 1967 Donald Stewart Russell was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of South Carolina and in 1971 was elevated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.