Clark Shackelford

Bio

Born in Nashville, the only child of a bookkeeper and a high school teacher. Became an Episcopalian in college due to the ministry of the late Fr. Ted Hoover. Later, at age 19, I inadvisably entered a marriage which did not survive. After graduating from Vanderbilt with a major in Social Sciences, I enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed in New England serving two years in the North Atlantic Search and Rescue operations and two years in administration. The Coast Guard provided an opportunity to visit Europe twice and allowed my photography hobby to blossom.

After my time in military service, I attended the Nashville School of Law and during that time I met and married Shelby, a cradle Episcopalian. Two of our three sons were born while I was in law school. After graduation, I passed the Bar Exam on the first try. I worked for a large bank in Nashville and then for a medium-sized bank in Owensboro, Kentucky.

While in Kentucky, I became more active in the diocese and our third son was born. I was active with all three boys in scouting. I was also the Civitan Club President and President of the Owensboro Council for Retarded Citizens, leading a successful campaign to purchase a training facility for clients.

After some time, I was invited by the Columbian Foundation of Indianapolis to take over their fundraising campaign. Subsequently while in Indianapolis, I managed campaigns for Pickerington, Ohio and Marian, Ohio.

God began to knock on my door through the witness of several friends and co-workers, who said they discerned in me gifts for the ministry, especially pastoral qualities. I initially demurred due to financial considerations, but then a relative died, leaving me just enough money to go to seminary. I received my Masters in Divinity from the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. Our first posting was to a parish and a mission in Western Kansas, and then we moved to Sand Springs where I served St. Matthew's for more than eight years, and I have been serving as rector of Emmanuel Parish, Shawnee, since 2004.

My hobbies include photography, woodworking, baking, wine collecting, grilling and gourmet cooking, writing poetry, gardening, travel and time with our grandsons. I also enjoy foreign languages and have a facility in Spanish and others.

My wife Shelby is a dedicated church volunteer whose career has spanned service to the developmentally disabled, management of non-profit agencies, and recently parish administration. Shelby is now the director of the Youthful Offender Program for Youth and Family Services in Shawnee. Our oldest son, John, retired from the Army and is now in the restaurant business. He and his wife Adrianne live in Newport News, Virginia. Our middle son, Steven, was at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, studying to be a medical researcher, but has taken a break from college and is working as a technician in the RV field. Our youngest son Paul graduated from OSU in 2006 with a major in creative writing, and is currently employed by IBC Bank in Tulsa. We are animal lovers and have several cats.

I also enjoy reading, as time allows. I am currently reading The Law of Dreams by Peter Behrens, The Audacity of Hope by Barak Obama, and The Righteous Men by Sam Bourne. I especially like the spy mystery genre. Some day I would like to write a book.

(Identification of grandsons) Steve has two: Cameron 10 and Trenton 6. John and Adrianne have one, John David, 7 mos., plus one in the oven.

We recently elected a new bishop who was an undercover vice squad officer for 18 years prior to going to seminary, so I really have to watch my step!

I am currently reading: Books on Trial: Red Scare in the Heartland by Shirley Wiegand and Wayne Wiegand (about Oklahoma's persecution of the political Left in the early 20th century), Cien Anos de Soledad (in Spanish) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and Stick You with the Bill) by Pulitzer-Prize winning reporter and author David Cay Johnston, whom I met last month.