Terry Lee Shell (April 2, 1922 – June 25, 1978) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas and the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.

Terry Shell
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
In office
September 16, 1975 – June 25, 1978
Appointed byGerald Ford
Preceded byJ. Smith Henley
Succeeded byRichard S. Arnold
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the Craighead County district
In office
January 12, 1953 – January 10, 1955[1]
Preceded byIvie C. Spencer[2]
Succeeded byCharlie G. Johnston[3]
Personal details
Born
Terry Lee Shell

(1922-04-02)April 2, 1922
Franklin, Arkansas
DiedJune 25, 1978(1978-06-25) (aged 56)
Little Rock, Arkansas
Political partyDemocrat[4]
Spouse
Sara McCutcheon
(m. 1945⁠–⁠1978)
[5]
Children
  • Suzanne Shell
  • Jeanne Carol Shell
[5]
Residence(s)1315 S. Main
Jonesboro, AR[5]
EducationArkansas State University (B.S.E.)
University of Arkansas School of Law (LL.B., J.D.)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1943–November 1945
Unit99th Infantry
Battles/warsWorld War II
Battle of the Bulge
[6]

Education and career edit

Shell was born in Franklin, Arkansas to Elmer G. and Roxie E. (née Fudge) Shell. Shell had a brother, John Russell, and a sister. The family moved to Jonesboro when Shell was young. He attended public schools and graduated from Jonesboro High School in Jonesboro in 1939. Shell served in the United States Army during World War II, from 1943 to November 1945. He was captured and held as a Prisoner of War by the Germans at the Battle of the Bulge.[7]

He received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Arkansas State University in 1946, and thereafter briefly attended the University of Texas Law School. Smith earned a Bachelor of Laws and Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1949. He was in private practice in Arkansas from 1949 to 1960. He was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1953 to 1954, serving in the 59th Arkansas General Assembly.[1] He was prosecuting attorney of the 2nd Judicial Circuit of Arkansas from 1955 to 1960. He was a chancery judge of the 12th Chancery Circuit Court of Arkansas from 1961 to 1975.[8]

Federal judicial service edit

Shell was nominated by President Gerald Ford on July 25, 1975, to a joint seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas and the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas vacated by J. Smith Henley. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 15, 1975, and received his commission on September 16, 1975, serving until his death.[8]

Death edit

Shell died on June 25, 1978, after suffering a heart attack at his residence in Little Rock, Arkansas, leading to cardiac arrest after he arrived at the hospital.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "SOS" (1998), pp. 304–306.
  2. ^ "SOS" (1998), pp. 302–303.
  3. ^ "SOS" (1998), p. 306.
  4. ^ "Lives" (1965), pp. 506.
  5. ^ a b c "Lives" (1965), p. 506.
  6. ^ "Judge Shell". The Arkansas Lawyer. 10 (1). Little Rock: Arkansas Bar Association: 10. January 1976. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  7. ^ "Lives" (1965), pp. 506–507.
  8. ^ a b Terry Lee Shell at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  9. ^ "Fayetteville Northwest Arkansas Times Archives, Jun 26, 1978". 26 June 1978.

Sources edit

Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas

1975–1978
Succeeded by