Francis Shackelford (September 9, 1909 – November 30, 1973) was the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

General Counsel of the Army from 1950 to 1952 and Assistant Secretary of the Army (General Management) from 1952 to 1953.

Biography

Francis Shackelford was born in Georgia and educated at

Princeton University Princeton University is a private university, private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial ...

and

Harvard Law School Harvard Law School (HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a Private university, private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, Harvard Law School is the oldest law school in continuous operation in the United ...

."Francis Shackelford", ''New York Times'', Dec. 7, 1973. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he served as an

officer An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," fro ...

in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

. In 1950,

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...

Harry Truman Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. As the 34th vice president in 1945, he assumed the presidency upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt that year. Subsequen ...

named Shackelford General Counsel of the Army, with Shackelford holding this office from July 24, 1950 until August 25, 1952.James E. Hewes, Jr., ''From Root to McNamara: Army Organization and Administration'' (1975), pp. 381-382
. On August 26, 1952, he became Assistant Secretary of the Army (General Management), holding this office until January 20, 1953. Leaving government service in 1953, Shackelford became a Managing Partner of the law firm then called Alston, Miller, Gaines, Spann, and Shackelford. The firm name was later streamlined to Alston, Miller, & Gaines. The firm is now the firm of

Alston & Bird Alston & Bird LLP is an American multinational law firm with over 800 lawyers in 13 offices throughout the United States, Europe, the UK, and Asia. The firm provides legal services to both domestic and international clients who conduct business ...

. Shackelford loved his career at Alston, Miller & Gaines to the extent that he and his partners eventually dubbed it "The Happy Firm". Shackelford also served as

general counsel A general counsel, also known as chief counsel or chief legal officer (CLO), is the chief in-house lawyer for a company or a governmental department. In a company, the person holding the position typically reports directly to the CEO, and their ...

Magic Chef Magic Chef, Inc. (formerly the American Stove Company) is an appliance brand currently owned by CNA International Inc. St. Louis origins In the 1850s John Ringen, a German immigrant to the United States, began a tinshop in St. Louis, Missouri. Hi ...

, a position he would hold until his death twenty years later. But, his true calling was his tax law work at Alston, Miller & Gaines. And, after all these decades,

is still called "The Happy Firm". Shackelford was married to the former Renee Marie Fletcher, and was living in

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

at the time of his death. After Shackelford underwent open heart surgery in

Birmingham, Alabama Birmingham ( ) is a city in the north central region of Alabama, United States. It is the county seat of Jefferson County, Alabama, Jefferson County. The population was 200,733 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List ...

, doctors were unable to revive him, and he died on November 30, 1973."Francis Shackelford, Truman Army Official", ''Washington Post'', Dec. 2, 1973.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shackelford, Francis 1909 births 1973 deaths General Counsels of the United States Army United States Army civilians Princeton University alumni Harvard Law School alumni United States Navy officers