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The woman who kept tabs on Houston City Council proceedings for at least half a century was honored on Wednesday when the chamber where she worked was named after her.
According to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Twitter account, the room at Houston City Hall where the 17-person body meets is now known as the Anna Russell Council Chamber.
“Anna Russell's impact was felt by many during her 60+ years of service to the City of Houston,” Turner tweeted.
Houston Public Media (HPM) reported that Russell held the position of city secretary in a tenure that saw nine mayors lead Texas’ largest city.
According to the National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate, the city first hired Russell, a mother of three, in the early 1950s, for which she earned the distinction as the Bayou City’s longest-employed municipal employee.
With her recognizable spectacles and stoic Texas drawl, Russell documented the city council’s regular and special meetings from 1972 to 2018.
She passed away on Feb. 3, 2020, at the age of 88, more than a month before the COVID-19 pandemic took root.
Turner and the city council held a special ceremony for the christening with Russell’s family in attendance.
Per the mayor, a park bench bearing Russell’s name will have a permanent home at Hermann Square just outside city hall.
Karen Marie Davis, one of Russell’s daughters, told Houston NBC affiliate KPRC, she and her sisters felt “honored” by the city’s tribute.
“She spent most of her life here and this was her room,” Davis said. “Everybody knows her everywhere I go in Houston, and it’s an honor to be her daughter.”
Per KPRC, members of the public who addressed the city council during Russell’s watch were bluntly told, “Thank you, your time has expired” when the speaker’s three-minute limit was met.
“It is a fitting tribute … The truth is Anna’s memory will never expire,” Turner said of the chamber in the report.