John Ben Shepperd
| John Ben Shepperd | |
|---|---|
| Attorney General of Texas | |
|
In office January 1, 1953 – January 1, 1957 |
|
| Preceded by | Price Daniel |
| Succeeded by | Will Reid Wilson, Sr. |
| Secretary of State of Texas | |
|
In office February 9, 1950 – April 30, 1952 |
|
| Preceded by | Ben Ramsey |
| Succeeded by | Jack Ross |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
October 19, 1915 Gladewater, Texas |
| Died | March 8, 1990 (aged 74) Gladewater, Texas |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Mamie Strieber Shepperd (married 1938–1990, his death) |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence |
(1) Gladewater |
| Alma mater | University of Texas at Austin |
| Occupation | Attorney; Businessman |
| Religion | Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) |
(1) Gladewater
John Ben Shepperd (October 19, 1915 – March 8, 1990) was an American lawyer, businessman, and politician who served as the Secretary of State (1950-1952) and Attorney General (1953–1957) for the U.S. state of Texas. During his tenure as Attorney General, Shepperd actively worked to oppose the Brown v. Board of Education decision mandating racial integration of public schools.
Shepperd was born in Gladewater, a small town in Gregg County near the more populous county seat of Longview, to Alfred Fulton Shepperd and the former Berthal Phillips. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1938 and an LL.B. in 1941. He was made a partner in the law firm of Kenley, Sharp, and Shepperd in Longview. During World War II, Shepperd served for two years in the United States Army. In 1946, on his release from the military, Shepperd was appointed to complete the term of his father, who had resigned, on the Gregg County Commissioners Court. In Texas, such appointments are made by the county judge.
Shepperd rose to the top ranks of the Jaycees, or Junior Chamber of Commerce, having served as both state and national presidents of the organization. On three occasions, he was named one of the “Outstanding Young Men in Texas”. In 1949, he was named among the “Outstanding Young Men in America”, along with future U.S. President Gerald R. Ford, Jr., of Michigan and later U.S. Senator Charles H. Percy of Illinois. Shepperd was allied with Governor Allan Shivers and the conservative wing of the then-dominant Texas Democratic Party. He often clashed with the liberal wing headed by Ralph W. Yarborough of Austin, who would later become a U.S. Senator. In 1949, he served briefly under appointment from Shivers on the elected Texas State Board of Education. In 1950, Shivers appointed Shepperd Secretary of State of Texas. In that capacity, Shepperd organized an elections law task force and promoted measures to ensure economy in government.
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