The Border Patrol is mourning the passing of the oldest living former Border Patrol Inspector, which was the predecessor to the modern day Border Patrol Agent.

Marion Russell was 101 years old when he died on Tuesday evening at his Tucson home.

Russell was born on November 23, 1907 in Sheridan, Wyoming, and worked as a schoolteacher.   He read a flier on a bulletin board about the Border Patrol. He soon took a civil service exam, and was subsequently sent to the Border Patrol Academy at Camp Chigas, Texas in 1942. After successfully completing the Academy’s 18th Session, he was sent to his first duty Station in Douglas. At the time, he worked with Chief Patrol Inspector Carson Morrow, Senior Patrol Inspector Hap Adams, and five other Inspectors. Today, the Douglas Station employs 456 Agents and support staff.

During his 31-year career with the Border Patrol, Russell was only ever permanently assigned to the Tucson Sector, serving tours at stations in Douglas, Nogales, Sasabe, Tucson, Naco and Amado. He did, however, serve several details over the years to California, Texas and down to Irapuato, Guanajuato, during the years of the Bracero program.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Ethel. He is survived by his son Vern and daughter Mary Alice, along with a total of 9 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.He spoke at the National Chief’s Conference in 2007 saying, “In my day, we didn’t have many vehicles, let alone agents. We were only allowed to drive the vehicles 20 miles per day, before we had to park them and work on foot for the remainder of the shift.” When he talked about modern “luxuries” like heaters or air conditioning, he added, “The Chief felt that if he put them in the vehicles, the PI’s would never get out.” But he went one step further, “He didn’t put those things in his vehicle either.”

When he met Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar, he told the Chief, “He was proud to still be a part of the Border Patrol.” With that, the Chief removed his shoulder ornaments and handled them to Russell. Each time I’d visit him, he still talked about the gesture as his prized possession. We were all better off knowing Marion and it was our pleasure to be part of his family.

Chief Patrol Agent Robert W. Gilbert said, “Our hearts are heavy with the passing of my friend, Marion.  We will all miss him, but his legacy continues with the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol.  Our thoughts and prayers go to out his family and loved ones.”

Funeral Arrangements are pending. 

Remembering Douglas

In a 2007 article by Bonnie Henry of the Arizona Daily Star,, Russell remembers, "At Douglas, we had 12 inspectors and probably saw one illegal alien a day," says Russell.

"When I was at Douglas, they limited us to 20 miles a shift. You checked along the border area, then the railroad yards, and you had gone 20 miles."

"We had one man assigned on the line to the horse patrol. He would take a 'proby' with him," says Russell, who clopped along a time or two as a raw probationer.

"We would go east from Douglas to the Slaughter Ranch and come back in a day."

It was in Douglas where Russell first had to draw his gun — though, ironically, it was sometimes because of Americans.

"At night on the border we had Mexicans coming and we had soldiers from Fort Huachuca. They were coming through the fence just like the Mexicans. There were MPs at the gate checking for passes. A lot did not have passes to go down there."

Did You Know:

While mounted watchmen were patrolling the border as early as 1904, the U.S. Border Patrol was not officially established until 1924.

The government initially provided a badge and revolver. Recruits furnished their own horse and saddle. Washington supplied the oats and hay. Annual salaries were $1,680.

Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security.