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|religion=Assembly of God​

|religion=Assembly of God​

Former [[Mormon]]​}}

Former [[Mormon]]​}}

 

'''Edwin Taylor Shell''', known as '''Eddy Shell''' (April 6, 1937 &ndash;  May 2, 2008), was a prominent [[educator]] and [[politician]] in Bossier Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]]. In 1967, he was among the original five full-time faculty members to launch Bossier Parish Community College in [[Bossier City]]. The institution was then known as Airline Junior College. Shell taught [[speech]] there for a full four decades.<ref name="ark">{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509085454/http://www.arklatexstudentnews.com/|title=''Ark La Tex Student News''|accessdate=May 12, 2008}}</ref> In 1991, he was elected as one of the first [[Republican Party|Republican]]s ever to serve on the Bossier Parish Police Jury (equivalent of county commissioner in other states).​

'''Edwin Taylor Shell''', known as '''Eddy Shell''' (April 6, 1937 &ndash;  May 2, 2008), was a prominent [[educator]] and [[politician]] in Bossier Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]]. In 1967, he was among the original five full-time faculty members to launch Bossier Parish Community College in [[Bossier City]]. The institution was then known as Airline Junior College. Shell taught [[speech]] there for a full four decades.<ref name="ark">{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509085454/http://www.arklatexstudentnews.com/|title=''Ark La Tex Student News''|accessdate=May 12, 2008}}</ref> In 1991, he was elected as one of the first [[Republican Party|Republican]]s ever to serve on the Bossier Parish Police Jury (equivalent of county commissioner in other states).​

==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>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>

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.​

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.​

 

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

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==

==The break with Mormonism==

 

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:​

 

<blockquote>

<blockquote>

You must know [[Jesus Christ]] as your personal Savior. You must allow Him to enter into your heart. He must be a part of your life at work, home, and play. You can have a personal relationship with the living God through [[Jesus Christ]], and the assurance of eternal life, through prayer to the real God of [[Abraham]], [[Isaac]], and [[Jacob]]. You will have daily the grace of love beyond expectations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mazeministry.com/mormonism/testimonies/eddy.htm|title=Edwin T. Shell Testimony|publisher=mazeministry.com|date=November 26, 2003|accessdate=April 13, 2015}}</ref>​</blockquote>

You must know [[Jesus Christ]] as your personal Savior. You must allow Him to enter into your heart. He must be a part of your life at work, home, and play. You can have a personal relationship with the living God through [[Jesus Christ]], and the assurance of eternal life, through prayer to the real God of [[Abraham]], [[Isaac]], and [[Jacob]]. You will have daily the grace of love beyond expectations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mazeministry.com/mormonism/testimonies/eddy.htm|title=Edwin T. Shell Testimony|publisher=mazeministry.com|date=November 26, 2003|accessdate=April 13, 2015}}</ref>​</blockquote>

Then BPCC Chancellor Tom Carleton, who delivered the eulogy at Shell's funeral, recalls that when Freeman Shell taught his son how to drive a car, he taught using the reverse gear first. "That's how [Eddy Shell] approached all of life's problems, taking the hardest first."<ref name="stimes"/>​

Then BPCC Chancellor Tom Carleton, who delivered the eulogy at Shell's funeral, recalls that when Freeman Shell taught his son how to drive a car, he taught using the reverse gear first. "That's how [Eddy Shell] approached all of life's problems, taking the hardest first."<ref name="stimes"/>​

 

Shell is interred with military honors at Hill Crest Memorial Park east of Bossier City.<ref name="obit"/>​

Shell is interred with military honors at Hill Crest Memorial Park east of Bossier City.<ref name="obit"/>​

 

==References==

==References==

{{reflist}}​

{{reflist}}​

 

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shell, Eddy}}​

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shell, Eddy}}​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]​

[[Category:United States Army]]

[[Category:United States Army]]

[[Category:United States Navy]]

[[Category:United States Navy]]