Born in June of 1975 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Joe is the youngest of three boys to Lyman and Bonnie Russell of St. Albans, West Virginia.  He lived in Landing, New Jersey for 30 years before moving out to Liberty, Missouri in 2005 where he currently resides.

   Joe graduated from the County College of Morris in 2002 with an Associate in Arts degree, completed the Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Program through the School of Forestry and Conservation, and also earned career diplomas in Motorcycle Repair and Small Engine Repair.

  Joe works in facilities management for Ferrellgas, LP in Liberty, Missouri. He also works at Lowe's Home Improvement and is the owner of Liberty Lifeline, LLC a CPR and First Aid certification company.

 He enjoys weather, meteorology, and helps his community through Amateur Radio and storm spotting while also serving as Vice Chair of the Public Safety Sales Tax Oversight Committee for the City of Liberty.

   In Tall Cedars, Joe is a Life Member of the Tall Cedar Foundation, a Charter Life Member and Past Grand Tall Cedar of Harry S Truman Forest No.212 in Kansas City, Missouri, and is a dual life member of Mexico City Forest No. 221 in Mexico City, Mexico.  He was appointed District Deputy Supreme Tall Cedar for District #17 (Missouri) in 2015, appointed as Supreme Director of Region 10 (Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri) in 2016, elected and served the kingdom in that same position for one term (2017-2019), and currently serves as the elected Senior Deputy Supreme Tall Cedar. Joe was recognized and awarded the Grand Tall Cedar of the Year Award for 2015 and was the 2018 John S. Broughton Award recipient.

   Joe’s Masonic journey began when he was raised in March of 2011 at Rising Sun Lodge No.13, Kansas City, Missouri, where he is a Past Master and Life Member. He is also Past Patron of Barry Chapter No.369 OES, Past President of the Amateur Radio Shrine Club at Ararat Shrine, Past High Priest of Liberty Chapter No.3, Past Illustrious Master of Liberty Council No.50 Cryptic Masons, Past Commander of Liberty Commandery No.6 Knights Templar, and a Life Member of all three York Rite Bodies. Joe served as the Assistant Grand Sentinel of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Missouri in 2017 and is a current Regional Grand Commander for the Grand Commandery of the State of Missouri. In June of 2019, Joe was inducted into the Knights of the York Court of Honour (KYCH) and is also a member of the Knight Masons, York Rite Sovereign College, Red Cross of Constantine, Yeoman of York, and Allied Masonic Degrees.