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Monument to James (Jay) Russell Dedicated near Tank He Moved to City
Story and Photo by Carol Arnett
Hundreds of children have climbed on it through the years, and thousands of people have driven by and seen it from Florissant Rd. Now the Sherman Tank at Bangert Part has a new monument identifying its origins and telling the story of how the tank came to be in Florissant fifty years ago.
The monument is dedicated to James (Jay) Russell, who acquired the tank for the city. A lifelong resident of Florissant, Russell was born in 1928. His parents owned Russell’s Grocery Store. In 1955, Russell married Delphie Mann and they opened their own business, BJ’s Bar and Restaurant. The couple worked side-by-side in the business while raising children Jeanne and Jim Jr.
In 1962, Russell was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives. He was reelected to serve for 18 years, until 1980, including four years as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. Russell was instrumental in creating the University of Missouri’s St. Louis campus. He was elected as the first Lewis and Clark Democratic committeeman from 1970 to 2008.
Russell is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, lifetime member of the American Legion, and Fourth Degree Knight and lifetime member of St. Rose Duchesne Knights of the Columbus Council 2951.
In 1964, Russell, with help from Congressman Karsten of St. Louis, acquired the tank. Dan Hamm and Larry Murphy helped Russell move the tank from Camp Crowder in Neosho, Missouri. Oscar Laramie, with the city’s parks department, arranged to have the tank placed in the park.
The Sherman tank was the primary battle tank used by the U.S. in World War II.
