A private company hopes to construct a huge, glowing billboard along Weymouth Rhymer Highway, officials said Thursday. The public has a chance to weigh in.

The dynamic LED advertisement would be so dramatically different than what is in the area now that the Public Works Department has asked St. Thomians to comment for or against the Times Square-style advertisement space before approving or denying construction.

The 10-foot by 30-foot light-up billboard would sit on an enormous pillar near the Edith L Williams Academy High School, roughly halfway between the turnouts for Cost U. Less and PriceSmart in central St. Thomas, said Public Works Commissioner Derek Gabriel.

The plan was unlike anything the island has seen before, Gabriel said.

Engineering and public-safety teams with Public Works vetted the company and the planned billboard to ensure it was both windstorm resistant and not a distraction to drivers, he said.

Gabriel said he was not personally a fan of the billboard — which will be permanent — but that the public’s opinion mattered more than his in this case.

“It’s going to change the landscape,” he said. “It’s government’s responsibility to facilitate economic growth. We did our full diligence. It’s outside of what we normally approve, but there was no reason for me to deny it outright.”

Gabriel encouraged St. Thomians to write to contactdpw@dpw.vi.gov or call 340-776-4844 to comment on the proposed billboard. The public comment period was scheduled to close May 26.

One of my favorite parts of working at the Source was the decade spent covering the Legislature, chiefly because of figures like former Sen. Ronald E. Russell, who helped me understand and connect to the Virgin Islands in a deeper way.

Through conversations, committee meetings, and stories from another era, I came to realize that many longtime senators carried far more than public office with them. They were educators, musicians, advocates, storytellers, and living connections to generations of Virgin Islands culture and community life – and Sen. Russell was very much part of that tradition.

For many Virgin Islanders, he will be remembered first as a former Senate president whose name became familiar through years of public service. But long before elected office became the defining headline attached to him, Russell belonged to another side of Virgin Islands life entirely: he was a musician.

That detail, though easy to overlook in the quick summaries that often follow the passing of well-known figures, says something important about both Sen. Russell and the era he represented. Before leadership became increasingly shaped by cameras, branding, and social media, many of the territory’s most recognizable voices emerged from community spaces first — churches, bands, classrooms, neighborhood organizations, radio discussions, and advocacy work. For Sen. Russell, it was moving comfortably between culture, law, education, and government rather than existing solely within elected office.

A 2003 Source profile described him simply as a “Musician, Lawyer, Senator” — not as separate chapters, but as parts of the same life. Looking back now, the description feels especially fitting.

Sen. Russell eventually served as president of the Legislature during a consequential period in Virgin Islands history marked by economic uncertainty, debates over government reform, and major shifts within the territory’s judicial system. In 2003, amid mounting financial concerns, he proposed the creation of a fiscal management board aimed at strengthening government accountability and long-term financial stability. A few years later, he became closely associated with legislative debates surrounding the establishment of the Virgin Islands Supreme Court, including efforts to permanently locate the court on St. Croix — a fight I remember him continuing publicly even after the court’s creation in 2006.

The work reflected the practical, legal-minded approach that defined much of his public life, and even after leaving office, he remained involved in conversations surrounding governance, constitutional issues, and the long-term direction of the territory.

There was little about Sen. Russell that felt performative.

He reflected an approach to leadership built through consistency, visibility in the community, and years of service rather than spectacle. In many ways, he represented a style that feels increasingly uncommon: grounded, disciplined, and deeply connected to civic responsibility.

And while his political résumé was substantial, it was never the only thing people associated with him, and that range may ultimately become one of the more meaningful parts of his legacy.

It is also difficult to fully understand Sen. Russell without understanding the family legacy that shaped him — particularly the influence of his grandmother, Eulalie “Marlee” Rivera, a towering cultural and civic figure on St. Croix whose life reflected resilience, faith, education, and service across decades.

In a 2009 tribute written following her death at the age of 101, Sen. Russell described a woman who overcame poverty, loss, and hardship while dedicating herself to teaching, faith, civic life, and the cultural fabric of St. Croix. He wrote about her raising two grandsons after the death of her daughter — “Ronnie is an attorney/senator and Eddie is a musician extraordinaire and teacher” — placing himself not at the center of the story, but as part of her larger legacy of perseverance and service.

The tribute revealed something deeply personal about Sen. Russell himself.

The qualities he admired in his grandmother — faith, steadiness, humility, devotion to education, and commitment to community — mirrored many of the same traits people associated with him throughout his own life.

Ms. Rivera, whom Russell described as a “true Virgin Islander and a Crucian to the bone,” was a founding member of Crucian Christmas Festival, a longtime educator, civic organizer, and cultural advocate. Her story, and Russell’s reverence for it, offered insight into the environment that shaped his understanding of service — one rooted not simply in politics, but in responsibility to others.

That influence remained visible throughout his life.

Even after leaving elected office, Sen. Russell stayed engaged through legal practice, civic commentary, and continued involvement in territorial matters. Most recently, and decades after first becoming known to many Virgin Islanders through legislative service, he was elected as a delegate to the Sixth Constitutional Convention — once again stepping into one of the territory’s most consequential civic processes.

For a man whose life moved between law, culture, education, and service, the role felt fitting. The work of helping shape and reexamine the future of the Virgin Islands connected naturally to the same sense of responsibility that appeared throughout his life.

What I will also remember about Sen. Russell was the time he took with people — including a young reporter still trying to piece together how such a vast institution worked. There were countless phone calls where he patiently explained the history behind an issue, walked through the legal nuances of legislation, or offered context that rarely made it into headlines. Sometimes he would call before others did with a tip or a perspective he felt was important to understand. Other times, like the tribute he wrote for his grandmother, he would simply send over something thoughtful and deeply personal without fanfare. He wrote the same way he spoke: carefully, sincerely, and with a strong sense of history and place. And he laughed often.

In today’s political climate, where well-known figures are often defined by moments or controversy, Sen. Russell instead reflected longevity and breadth — not simply the offices he held, but the many spaces in which he remained present over time: lawyer, musician, senator.

Sincere and heartfelt condolences to his wife and children, his colleagues, his friends and neighbors, and the community who loved him.

Former Senate President Ronald E. Russell — an attorney, musician, athlete, and longtime advocate for Frederiksted and the Virgin Islands — was remembered Wednesday inside the Legislature he once led, as senators paused during a committee hearing to honor his passing with a moment of silence.

The announcement was made by Sen. Kenneth Gittens during Wednesday’s Senate session, where lawmakers reflected briefly on Russell’s decades of public service and his long-standing role in Virgin Islands civic and political life.

Russell, who served as president of the 29th Legislature, remained active in public affairs well beyond elected office — most recently as a delegate to the Sixth Constitutional Convention. Over the years, he also served as legal counsel to multiple territorial boards and agencies, including the Board of Education, Public Services Commission, Coastal Zone Management Commission, and Judicial Ethics Commission.

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. described Russell as “a son of St. Croix whose life and work touched many corners of Virgin Islands society,” pointing not only to his legislative service, but also his advocacy for Frederiksted, work with the Government Employees’ Retirement System, and continued involvement in the civic and cultural life of the territory.

“He believed in public service, in strong institutions, and in the responsibility of Virgin Islanders to speak up and help shape the future of these islands,” Bryan said.

Born and raised on St. Croix, Russell became a prominent figure in territorial politics during a period shaped by economic uncertainty, debates over government reform, and significant changes within the Virgin Islands judiciary. Trained as an attorney, he became closely associated with discussions surrounding the establishment of the Virgin Islands Supreme Court and advocated strongly for locating the court on St. Croix — one of several issues that reflected his broader focus on government structure and institutional accountability.

During the early 2000s, Russell also proposed the creation of a fiscal management board amid growing financial concerns in the territory, arguing for stronger oversight and long-term fiscal stability.

Before entering elected office, Russell had already built a broad résumé that stretched across law, athletics, music, and public advocacy. Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach noted Wednesday that Russell represented the Virgin Islands in international track and field competitions as a sprinter and remained deeply engaged in the humanities and cultural life of the territory throughout his life.

Roach also reflected on Russell’s long-standing involvement in territorial affairs and political development, noting that the two men frequently discussed the future and political status of the Virgin Islands.

Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett described Russell as “a son of these islands” whose public service was deeply influenced by his upbringing in Frederiksted and by his grandmother, educator and cultural figure Eulalie “Marlee” Rivera.

“His public service was deeply shaped by his roots in Frederiksted, his education as an attorney, as an athlete representing his home, and a belief in service to Virgin Islanders at every level of government,” Plaskett said.

Former Sen. Janette Millin-Young, who served alongside Russell in the 29th Legislature, described him as one of the first senators to help guide her as a freshman lawmaker.

“I had the privilege of serving alongside him and benefited greatly from his mentorship,” Millin-Young said in a statement Wednesday. “He was one of the few who took the time to guide me, often inviting me to pro forma sessions and helped me better understand the legislative process.”

She also remembered Russell for the way he approached leadership during formal legislative sessions.

“President Russell led with clarity and intention, always taking the time to articulate the substance of each bill during our Formal Sessions,” she said. “Beyond his leadership, he was genuinely kind, approachable, and grounded. I considered him a friend, and his commitment to the people of the Virgin Islands will not be forgotten.”

Much of Wednesday’s tributes also centered on Russell’s longtime advocacy for Frederiksted.

Our Town Frederiksted, where Russell served as president from 2019 to 2023, credited him with helping stabilize and reorganize the nonprofit during a difficult period in its history.

“Our Town Frederiksted would not be where it is today without Ronnie’s leadership,” current OTF President Shomari Moorehead said in a statement. “He stepped in to bring OTF out of a period of inactivity and single-handedly led the charge to reorganize and restore our organizational stability and financial solvency.”

The organization also pointed to Russell’s leadership in helping advance the Midre Cummings Park rebuild project in partnership with Children First St. Croix and the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation.

The Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands similarly described Russell as a “statesman, constitutional delegate, athlete, musician, and community advocate,” noting that he remained involved in constitutional issues, civic engagement, historic preservation, athletics, retirees’ advocacy, and Virgin Islands culture long after leaving elected office.

Carol Burke, chair of the Democratic Party and former chief adviser during Russell’s tenure as Senate president, said he approached leadership with “seriousness of purpose, deep preparation, and a profound respect for the institution of the Legislature and the people it represented.”

Across the statements released Wednesday, one theme appeared repeatedly: Russell’s public life extended far beyond politics alone. Russell is survived by his wife, attorney Royette Russell; his children; extended family; colleagues; and friends.