Richard B. Russell served in the United States Senate from 1933 to his heath in 1971. He received an LL.D. from Mercer University in 1957. During the 91st Congress, he was president pro tempore of the Senate, a member and former chairman of the United States Senate Armed Services Committee, a member of the United States Senate Space and Aeronautics Sciences Committee and of the United States Joint Committee on Atomic Energy. He was also a member of the commission which investigated the assassination of President of the United States John F. Kennedy. While still in office, Senator Russell died 21 January 1971 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC.
USS Richard B. Russell (SSN-687) was named in his honor.
References
This article includes information collected from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.