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Shell was born in [[Lubbock]], [[Texas]] to Freeman E. Shell, Sr. (August 20, 1906 &ndash; November 24, 1994), and the former Reba Odell Taylor (March 29, 1915 &ndash; January 29, 2003).<ref name="root">Social Security Death Index on Ancestry.com (under pay wall)</ref> Mrs. Shell was originally from Hamburg in Ashley County in southeastern [[Arkansas]]. The Shells moved from Lubbock to Springdale in Washington County, Arkansas, and then Benton County in far northwestern Arkansas. He was the youngest [[Eagle Scout]] in the state.<ref name="pass" /> He graduated in 1955 from Springdale High School,<ref name="pass">​

Shell was born in [[Lubbock]], [[Texas]] to Freeman E. Shell, Sr. (August 20, 1906 &ndash; November 24, 1994), and the former Reba Odell Taylor (March 29, 1915 &ndash; January 29, 2003).<ref name="root">Social Security Death Index on Ancestry.com (under pay wall)</ref> Mrs. Shell was originally from Hamburg in Ashley County in southeastern [[Arkansas]]. The Shells moved from Lubbock to Springdale in Washington County, Arkansas, and then Benton County in far northwestern Arkansas. He was the youngest [[Eagle Scout]] in the state.<ref name="pass" /> He graduated in 1955 from Springdale High School,<ref name="pass">​

"Bossier Police Juror dies from cancer", ''Northwest Louisiana News,'' May 5, 2008.</ref> where one of his classmates was Carolyn Joan Clark Pollan (born July 12, 1937), subsequently the longest-serving Republican and the longest-serving woman in the Arkansas House of Representatives from a district based at [[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]].​

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

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|date=May 17, 2008|publisher=''|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|date=May 17, 2008|publisher=''|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>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]] [[Lo Walker|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.​

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==

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[[Category:Louisiana People]]​

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[[Category:Republicans]]

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[[Category:United States Marine Corps]]​

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