Roadside Signage Marks Sgt. Lee Russell Airport

McKENZIE — New signage along State Route 22, McKenzie marks the location of the newly renamed Sgt. Lee Russell/Carroll County Airport

In April 2025, the Carroll County Commission unanimously approved the renaming of the county airport, located at Airport Lane, McKenzie.

The county airport is now the Sgt. Lee Russell Carroll County Airport. With a unanimous vote, the Carroll County Commission approved Resolution 4-11-25, naming the airport in honor of the late Tennessee State Trooper. Sgt. Russell tragically died in a helicopter crash while on duty in August 2022.

Sgt. Russell served Tennessee for nearly 12 years, beginning as a reserve deputy for the Henry County Sheriff’s Office in 2007 while attending UT Martin. He became a full-time Henry County Sheriff’s Deputy in 2008 and, a year later, began his aviation career as a part-time pilot while serving on the 24th Judicial Drug Task Force. He transitioned to the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) in 2010 and was selected as a THP pilot in May 2012. He was transferred to the Carroll County Airport so there would be an available helicopter in northwest Tennessee. He was promoted to sergeant on November 12, 2017.