Changes

| term_start=November 1953

| term_start=November 1953

| term_end=January 1959

| term_end=January 1959

| term_start2=January 1961]

| term_start2=January 1961

| term_end2=January 1963

| term_end2=January 1963

| preceded=Laughlin E. Waters

| preceded=Laughlin E. Waters

==Legislator==

==Legislator==

Shell first won his seat in the California State Assembly in a special election held on November 3, 1953, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Republican Laughlin E. Waters. Shell was relected to full two-year terms in 1954 and 1956, but he was unseated by David V. Easton in the national Democratic sweep of 1958, which brought California Attorney General [[Pat Brown|Edmund Gerald "Pat" Brown, Sr.]], to the governorship in a stunning defeat of the Republican [[U.S. Senator]] [[William F. Knowland]], who ran instead for governor that year. Shell made a comeback in 1960, when Nixon in defeat still carried California in the race against [[John F. Kennedy]]. Shell considered the California Scholarship Act to have been his crowning legislative achievement. The law helped thousands of young people secure an education at both private and public universities.<ref name=obit/>

Shell first won his seat in the California State Assembly in a special election held on November 3, 1953, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Republican Laughlin E. Waters. Shell was reelected to full two-year terms in 1954 and 1956, but he was unseated by David V. Easton in the national Democratic sweep of 1958, which brought California Attorney General [[Pat Brown|Edmund Gerald "Pat" Brown, Sr.]], to the governorship in a stunning defeat of the Republican [[U.S. Senator]] [[William F. Knowland]], who ran instead for governor that year. Shell made a comeback in 1960, when Nixon in defeat still carried California in the race against [[John F. Kennedy]]. Shell considered the California Scholarship Act to have been his crowning legislative achievement. The law helped thousands of young people secure an education at both private and public universities.<ref name=obit/>

In his last legislative term, Shell was chosen by his fellow Republicans as minority leader. The 58th District turned Democratic after Shell vacated the seat. No Republican has represented the district since 1992. In the 2006 general election, the Republican candidate drew less than 40 percent of the vote.

In his last legislative term, Shell was chosen by his fellow Republicans as minority leader. The 58th District turned Democratic after Shell vacated the seat. No Republican has represented the district since 1992. In the 2006 general election, the Republican candidate drew less than 40 percent of the vote.

Then California Governor [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] extended condolences to the Shell family. In a proclamation, he called Shell “a dedicated, loyal public servant, who contributed years of service to his district and was thoroughly committed to bettering the lives of Californians.”<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.turnto23.com/news/gov-schwarzenegger-joe-shell-loyal-public-servant-|title=Gov. Schwarzenegger: Joe Shell Loyal Public Servant: Funeral Planned for Friday, April 11|publisher=Channel 23 in Bakersfield, California|date=April 9, 2008|accessdate=May 13, 2018}}</ref> Shell was interred at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Bakersfield. A memorial service followed at the First [[Presbyterian]] Church of Bakersfield though he was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, also in Bakersfield.<ref name=obit/>

Then California Governor [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] extended condolences to the Shell family. In a proclamation, he called Shell “a dedicated, loyal public servant, who contributed years of service to his district and was thoroughly committed to bettering the lives of Californians.”<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.turnto23.com/news/gov-schwarzenegger-joe-shell-loyal-public-servant-|title=Gov. Schwarzenegger: Joe Shell Loyal Public Servant: Funeral Planned for Friday, April 11|publisher=Channel 23 in Bakersfield, California|date=April 9, 2008|accessdate=May 13, 2018}}</ref> Shell was interred at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Bakersfield. A memorial service followed at the First [[Presbyterian]] Church of Bakersfield though he was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, also in Bakersfield.<ref name=obit/>

Dan Walters summed up Shell's politcal legacy in ''The Sacramento Bee'' in an article entitled "For Joe Shell, character trumped ideology in California politics":

Dan Walters summed up Shell's political legacy in ''The Sacramento Bee'' in an article entitled "For Joe Shell, character trumped ideology in California politics":

"[George] Deukmejian persuaded Shell to take a seat on the Agricultural Labor Relations Board in 1989, but Shell resigned two years later, saying he was embarrassed to be paid for doing almost nothing. It was vintage Joe Shell, a crusty, old-school politician to whom character was more important than ideology. "Shell died Monday at his home in Bakersfield – the same day that old enemy Jerry Brown was celebrating his 70th birthday and contemplating another run for the governorship. It's too bad Shell won't be around to see what happens."<ref>''The Sacramento Bee'', April 2008.</ref>, the return of the Brown to two more terms as governor.

"[George] Deukmejian persuaded Shell to take a seat on the Agricultural Labor Relations Board in 1989, but Shell resigned two years later, saying he was embarrassed to be paid for doing almost nothing. It was vintage Joe Shell, a crusty, old-school politician to whom character was more important than ideology. "Shell died Monday at his home in Bakersfield – the same day that old enemy Jerry Brown was celebrating his 70th birthday and contemplating another run for the governorship. It's too bad Shell won't be around to see what happens."<ref>''The Sacramento Bee'', April 2008.</ref>, the return of the Brown to two more terms as governor.