Francis Shackelford (September 9, 1909 – November 30, 1973) was the
United States General Counsel of the Army from 1950 to 1952 and
Assistant Secretary of the Army (General Management)
Assistant Secretary of the Army is a title used to describe various civilian officials in the United States Department of the Army.
Present Assistant Secretaries of the Army
At present, there are five offices bearing the title of Assistant Secret ...
from 1952 to 1953.
Biography
Francis Shackelford was born in Georgia and educated at
Princeton University and
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School (Harvard Law or HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest continuously operating law school in the United States.
Each class ...
.
["Francis Shackelford", ''New York Times'', Dec. 7, 1973.] During
World War II, he served as an
officer in the
United States Navy.
In 1950,
President of the United States Harry Truman 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](_blank)
. On August 26, 1952, he became
Assistant Secretary of the Army (General Management)
Assistant Secretary of the Army is a title used to describe various civilian officials in the United States Department of the Army.
Present Assistant Secretaries of the Army
At present, there are five offices bearing the title of Assistant Secret ...
, 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. 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 of
Magic Chef, 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, Alston & Bird is still called "The Happy Firm".
Shackelford was married to the former Renee Marie Fletcher, and was living in
tlanta, Georgiaat the time of his death.
After Shackelford underwent
open heart surgery in
Birmingham, Alabama, 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