Goodbye Dr. Shell

When I first learned of Dr. Eddy Shell’s untimely death, my heart skipped a beat. I call it “untimely” because Dr. Shell has always been a fighter and a winner. This bout with cancer was, in his way of looking at things, another challenge in life.

Many have told of Dr. Shell’s influence on them in the classroom or as a colleague. While I never sat in one of his classes, Dr. Shell taught me much about life and Bossier Parish. During one of my first-ever police jury meetings as publisher of the Bossier Press-Tribune, Dr. Shell made a point to not only greet me, but to make sure I had the same documents the other police jurors were viewing when considering a piece of legislation. Many times, he would get up from his seat in the middle of the jury meeting and bring me his own copy. It was a consideration I never forgot, nor took lightly.

Over the past nine years, Dr. Shell and I have had a great friendship established and sustained by a common thread: God, Country and Community.

He would be quick to call me on the phone, or send me an email about some subject that he felt needed or deserved my attention. He was always supportive of the newspaper, and my role as its publisher.

Within the past two months, while Dr. Shell was in the midst of his bout with cancer, he took time out to give me a phone call with a suggestion for the paper.

“Hello David. Eddy Shell here,” the voice on the other end of the phone said.

After cordial agreements and talk about how he was progressing, Dr. Shell got to his point.

“I really like the thing at the bottom of your editorial page with all the state officials on it,” he said.

“Thank you. It means a lot coming from you,” I said.

“I was wondering. Would it be prudent to perhaps have other public servants on there too?”

“You mean the Police Jury, City Council? Those types?”

“Exactly. You wouldn’t have room to run them all at the same time, but you could rotate them. I think people might want to know who represents them and how to get in touch with them.”
“That’s a great idea. I’ll get to work on it.”

Since then, I have made some attempts to get the photos of the various members of public bodies. Soon, we will have the Police Jury, City Council and School Board on the editorial page.
The exchange between Dr. Shell and I was typical of the kind of man he was – always looking for ways to improve things, and people. It was his gift and our blessing.

Bossier Parish has lost a valuable member of its community. However, we are all better people and live in a better place because he was here. For that, I thank you, Dr. Shell.