In Memory

William Edward Shinn

William Edward Shinn

Annoncement of Bill Shinn's Passing by his son-in-law, Barney Lovelace

Bill died suddenly and unexpectantly on April 26, 2019. It was either a pulmonary embolism or an aneurism. Below is an email from a lawyer in Birmingham who worked in the field of public education law. Bill represented two school districts for many years. I believe this email captures the type lawyer Bill was – he was highly respected and was an excellent lawyer. 

Obituary for William Edward Shinn Jr. of Decatur, Alabama
January 8, 1939 - April 26, 2019

William Edward Shinn, Jr. was born January 8, 1939 to William Edward and Virginia Weathersbee Shinn in Raleigh, North Carolina. He attended Needham Broughton High School there, and was president of its student body. He was a graduate of Davidson College, where he played varsity basketball for four years, and was president of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. After graduation from North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of the editorial board of the North Carolina Law Review, and a member of the Order of the Coif, he served for three years in the Judge Advocate General Corps of the United States Army. 

In 1967 Bill moved with his wife and two daughters to Decatur to practice law with his father-in-law, Julian Harris, Norman W. Harris and Norman W. Harris, Jr. in the firm Harris, Harris, Shinn and Harris. In 1989 the firm, then Harris, Shinn, Phillips and Perry, merged with Caddell Shanks, to become Harris, Caddell and Shanks, and Bill practiced there until his retirement at the end of 2017.

He was the County Attorney for Morgan County and represented the Decatur Board of Education for several decades. He was a graduate of Leadership Alabama, a member of various civic committees, and very active as a member of First United Methodist Church, serving on church committees and singing in the choir.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Noel; four daughters, Margaret Evans and her husband Jeff, Elizabeth Heinisch and husband Don, Noel Lovelace and husband Barney, and Catherine Polk and husband Ben; four grandchildren, Amelia Evans, Kristopher Heinisch, Elizabeth and Sarah Polk; his brother, Robert W. Shinn of Charlotte; and his sister, Elizabeth Shinn Gatewood of Winston-Salem.

Bill Shinn - The Lawyer's Lawyer by Carl Johnson

Bill was a “lawyer’s lawyer.” He combined a staunch commitment to legal scholarship and vigorous advocacy with civility and uncompromising professionalism.  His leadership and gravitas helped establish education law as a bona fide practice specialty in Alabama and “upped the game” of all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him. Bill was nobody’s wallflower, but wasn’t one to put the spotlight on himself.  Looking back on his distinguished career and many contributions to our calling, it occurs to me that he may not have received the full measure of recognition along the way that he deserved.  His rich legacy and the example he set for those that follow in his large footsteps will nonetheless be a positive and enduring one, and will benefit the cause of public education for many years to come.

Source of Obituary: Decatur Daily / Decatur, Alabama,  April 27, 2019

 



 
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05/03/19 07:18 PM #1    

Bruce Hoadley

Here is a photo that I took of Bill Shinn at the 50th reunion.

Bruce Hoadley


05/03/19 07:20 PM #2    

Bruce Hoadley

Here is a photo that I took of Bill Shinn's wife, Noel, at our 50th Reunion.

Bruce Hoadley


05/03/19 08:36 PM #3    

Mary Lily Johnson (Nuckolls)

Bill was not only a classmate of mine but he also roomed at Davidson College with my husband, Jim Nuckolls. They both played basketball for Davidson all four years. Bill was an outstanding athlete. We send our love to Noell and the family.


05/04/19 12:11 PM #4    

Bruce Hoadley

I am very saddened and unnerved by Bill Shinn’s passing. He was a great friend in High School. We were basketball teammates starting in the 8th grade. We always reconnected at reunions as if no time had passed. I have very fond memories of interacting with Bill and his amazing wife, Noel, at our 50th reunion, which was the last time that I saw him. At that time, he looked and acted young and vigorous as if he would live forever. God bless Bill Shinn. Mr. Needham Broughton was a great guy and led a very productive life. We all looked up to him. 

Attached is a newspaper photo of Bill and me called the Cap’s One-Two Punch. 


05/08/19 09:26 AM #5    

Louise H. Chapman (Hoffman)

Not only was Bill a gifted leader, but he also knew how to use just the right word from our Gilmartin vocabulary book when he gave a speech!    Lou Chapman Hoffman

 

 


05/08/19 01:13 PM #6    

Samuel C. (Sandy) Matthews

I am very sorry to learn of Bill's death. He was a great classmate and became a consumate laywer. My sympathy to his family and many friends.

Sam Matthews  


05/09/19 01:03 PM #7    

Julia B. (Judy) Allen

Bill was an impressive student and athlete throughout our school days (Fred Olds through Brougton) and I always enjoyed seeing him when he made it to our reunions. Sad to think of him no longer being with us.  He certainly made valuable contributions in the time he was with us.  

 

Judy Allen


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