Russell Lynn McClellan was the first child born to Billy and Joy. He was born on March 25, 1957 in Brownwood Memorial Hospital in Brownwood, TX while Billy and Joy were still students at Howard Payne College.

The family moved to Rochelle, TX when Russell was about 18 months of age when Billy began to pastor the First Church of Rochelle. Billy has also started (remotely!) attending Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX during this time.

The family moved to Cranfills Gap when Russell was about 2 years old, to Georgetown when he was about 4 years old, and to Valley Mills when he was about 5 years old.