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"Bossier Police Juror dies from cancer", ''Northwest Louisiana News,'' May 5, 2008.</ref> where one of his classmates was Carolyn Joan Pollan, subsequently the longest-serving Republican and the longest-serving woman in the Arkansas House of Representatives.​

"Bossier Police Juror dies from cancer", ''Northwest Louisiana News,'' May 5, 2008.</ref> where one of his classmates was Carolyn Joan Pollan, subsequently the longest-serving Republican and the longest-serving woman in the Arkansas House of Representatives.​

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In 1960, Shell received his bachelor's degree and teaching credentials from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]]. He was a teacher and [[debate]] coach at Bossier High School for seven years until he joined Bossier Parish Community College. He procured graduate credentials from Louisiana Tech, [[Northwestern State University]] in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], and California Miramar University in [[San Diego]], then known as "Pacific Western University".<ref name="obit">{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/shreveporttimes/Obituaries.asp?Page=SearchResults|title=Obituaries and Guest Books for 5/17/2008| date=2008-05-17| publisher=''[[The Times (Shreveport)|The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=May 17, 2008}}</ref>​

In 1960, Shell received his bachelor's degree and teaching credentials from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]]. He was a teacher and [[debate]] coach at Bossier High School for seven years until he joined Bossier Parish Community College. He procured graduate credentials from Louisiana Tech, [[Northwestern State University]] in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], and California Miramar University in [[San Diego]], then known as "Pacific Western University".<ref name="obit">{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/shreveporttimes/Obituaries.asp?Page=SearchResults|title=Obituaries and Guest Books for 5/17/2008| date=2008-05-17|publisher=''[[The Times (Shreveport)|The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=May 17, 2008}}</ref>​

==Community service==​

==Community service==​

Shell was first elected to the police jury in a runoff election with his fellow Republican, Fay Rawls, 1,215 votes (52.6 percent) to 1,093 ballots (47.4 percent). The third candidate, eliminated in the nonpartisan blanket primary, was future Bossier City [[Mayor]] Lorenz "Lo" Walker,  then running as a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11161991/11161991_08.html​

Shell was first elected to the police jury in a runoff election with his fellow Republican, Fay Rawls, 1,215 votes (52.6 percent) to 1,093 ballots (47.4 percent). The third candidate, eliminated in the nonpartisan blanket primary, was future Bossier City [[Mayor]] Lorenz "Lo" Walker,  then running as a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns: Bossier Parish, November 16, 1991.</ref> He was unopposed in the subsequent elections of 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007 from his District 12 seat in south Bossier Parish. ''Bossier Press-Tribune'' editor and publisher David A. Specht, Jr., recalls how considerate Shell was to reporters at police jury meetings. He made sure that the reporters had documentation to assist them in writing their stories. He was available for background sessions and often recommended that reporters focus on items that he considered the most important. Specht said that he was still shocked to learn of Shell's death because, even as a [[cancer]] patient, Shell had fought bravely against all adversity.<ref>David A. Specht, Jr., "Goodbye Dr. Shell", ''Bossier Press-Tribune'', May 7, 2008.</ref> On Shell's death, the police jury appointed Republican Paul McMillian "Mac" Plummer (born April 1956) of Bossier City to serve until the October 4 special election for the remainder of Shell's last term, which had begun on January 16, 2008.​

|title=Official Bossier Parish Election Results|date=November 16, 1991|publisher=State of Louisiana| accessdate=January 30, 2015}}</ref> He was unopposed in the subsequent elections of 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007 from his District 12 seat in south Bossier Parish. ''Bossier Press-Tribune'' editor and publisher David A. Specht, Jr., recalls how considerate Shell was to reporters at police jury meetings. He made sure that the reporters had documentation to assist them in writing their stories. He was available for background sessions and often recommended that reporters focus on items that he considered the most important. Specht said that he was still shocked to learn of Shell's death because, even as a [[cancer]] patient, Shell had fought bravely against all adversity.<ref>David A. Specht, Jr., "Goodbye Dr. Shell", ''Bossier Press-Tribune'', May 7, 2008.</ref> On Shell's death, the police jury appointed Republican Paul McMillian "Mac" Plummer (born April 1956) of Bossier City to serve until the October 4 special election for the remainder of Shell's last term, which had begun on January 16, 2008.​

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Shell was "Educator of the Year" in Bossier Parish in 1970 and 1995 and "Mr. Bossier Parish" in 1970. He was a member of the Louisiana National Guard and served in the reserve components of the [[United States Army]], [[United States Navy|Navy]], and the [[United States Marine Corps]]. He was the founder of the first day-time truancy center in Louisiana; by 2008, there were twelve such facilities. Shell was also a professional [[photographer]], often handling [[wedding]]s, and served as president of the trade association, the Professional Photographers of Louisiana from 1980 to 1981. He was a member of the Masonic lodge.<ref name="obit" />​

Shell was "Educator of the Year" in Bossier Parish in 1970 and 1995 and "Mr. Bossier Parish" in 1970. He was a member of the Louisiana National Guard and served in the reserve components of the [[United States Army]], [[United States Navy|Navy]], and the [[United States Marine Corps]]. He was the founder of the first day-time truancy center in Louisiana; by 2008, there were twelve such facilities. Shell was also a

 

==The break with Mormonism==

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Shell was a member of the Broadmoor Assembly of God Church, but he and his second wife, the former Barbara Schneider (born November 1948), were [[Mormons]] from 1994 to 2002. He publicly broke with Mormonism and posted a statement on the [[Internet]] to that effect. Shell said that he conducted a study of the religion and determined the ''Book of Mormon'' to be [[fiction]]al. He particular rejected the Mormon concept of eternal progression: “As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be.”<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lds.org/ensign/1982/02/i-have-a-question?lang=eng |title= I Have a Question: Is President Lorenzo Snow's oft-repeated statement — "As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be" — accepted as official doctrine by the Church? |author=Gerald N. Lund |date=February 1982 |publisher=''Ensign'' (Latter Day Saints magazine)}}</ref> Shell encapsulated his testimony, accordingly, in second person:​

Shell was a member of the Broadmoor Assembly of God Church, but he and his second wife, the former Barbara Schneider (born November 1948), were [[Mormons]] from 1994 to 2002. He publicly broke with Mormonism and posted a statement on the [[Internet]] to that effect. Shell said that he conducted a study of the religion and determined the ''Book of Mormon'' to be [[fiction]]al. He particular rejected the Mormon concept of eternal progression: “As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be.”<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lds.org/ensign/1982/02/i-have-a-question?lang=eng |title= I Have a Question: Is President Lorenzo Snow's oft-repeated statement — "As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be" — accepted as official doctrine by the Church? |author=Gerald N. Lund |date=February 1982 |publisher=''Ensign'' (Latter Day Saints magazine)}}</ref> Shell encapsulated his testimony, accordingly, in second person:​

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