Russell (Russ) Duggins was born to Russell D. and Virginia W. Duggins on May 17, 1943 in a little town east of St. Louis, Mo. Russell is the second of five children born to Russell and Virginia. Russell has two sisters, one older, Jennie Lea and one younger, Kathleen and two brothers both younger, Jack and Mike. Russell attended E. W. Cullen Jr. High and Jesse H. Jones High Schools in Houston, Texas. After graduation from high School, in1962, Russell enlisted in the U. S. Navy and served his country as an Aviation Electrician until his transfer to the Fleet Reserve in May, 1984. Russ received his Honorable Discharge in 1994. After Russell retired, he went to work as “Host” at Shirley's Steak House until a position opened up at NAS Chase Field at which time Russell was hired as a Plane Captain assigned to VT-24. In this capacity, Russell earned certification to operate all of the Ground Support Equipment. He was recognized as “Civilian of the Quarter”. Russell then had the opportunity to work in the Electrical Shop; which was his job when on active duty. While assigned to the Electrical Shop, Russell maintained his ground equipment certification and also earned his Collateral Duty Inspector certification. When NAS Chase Field went to Civilian Contractors, Russell stayed on in a Shift Supervisory position, and recertified in all the ground support equipment. When NAS Chase Field was closed, Russell attended Emergency Medical Services classes at Del Mar in Corpus Christi, Texas, were he earned an Emergency Medical Technician State Certification. Russell worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, EMS Division and transferred to Anderson Ambulance in Corpus Christi, Texas; then to Medic One EMS in Beeville, Texas.

Russell joined the Skidmore Fire Department in 1982 and is still semi-active member of the Skidmore Fire Department. Russell was instrumental in reorganizing the Skidmore EMS; where he earned his Emergency Care Attendant Certification. Russell worked as an Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate and served the Skidmore EMS as Scheduling Officer. After researching the need to move from Basic Care to Advanced Life Support unit, Russell earned “Firefighter of the Year” and “EMS Person of the Year” during his active years of service. Russell has also served as “Head Umpire” for the Beeville Little League and umpired games in the local league and in District 29 tournaments for some 12 years.

Russell was brought up by parents who went to church on occasion; Christmas and Easter, however they never interfered with Russell going to Sunday School or church, in fact, they encouraged his going. Before Russell graduated from high school, his parents grew active in church and Russell began going with his family to Grace Episcopal Church. During Russell’s participation, he became an Altar Server along with his two brothers.

It was during his service in the U. S. Navy, that Russell met and married Ann Daly. Russell and Ann met over the “CB” Radio and it was through this friendship and marriage that brought Russell to the Catholic Church. Russell has five children, three boys and two girls from a previous marriage and Ann has two boys. Russell and Ann along with Ann’s (their) two children moved to Texas due to orders to VT-25 at Chase Field in 1982. They presently live in the same home they bought in Skidmore, Texas in 1982.

When Russell joined the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Skidmore, Texas, Fr. Jean Hart mentioned the Diaconate Program; this sparked Russell’s interest and for several years, Russell took classes offered by the Pastoral Institute in Corpus Christi, Texas. Russell and Ann moved their membership to St. Joseph in 2000. Then when the “new” Diaconate Program was offered in 2003, Russell was accepted into that program.

Over these past five years, Russell had often wondered, “Why should I get up at 5:00 a.m. every Saturday and drive 75 miles to attend classes?” He got his answer, because that is exactly what he did for the past five years. Russell has made the statement, “The sacrifice that I made was nothing compared to the sacrifice that God’s only Son, Jesus Christ made by giving His life that we might have life and have it more abundantly. This journey has been well worth the time spent and all the work that was accomplished. My journey is just beginning so I ask for your prayers.”