{{Infobox officeholder
| name=Mary Katherine Jaynes Shell
| image=Mary K. Shell of CA.png
| nationality=[[United States|American]]
| office=[[Mayor]] of Bakersfield, <br>Kern County, [[California]], USA
| party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]
| term_start=1981
(1) At the time of her retirement as a Kern County supervisor, Shell was called "the most popular [[politician]] in Kern County history" by ''The Bakersfield Californian'' [[newspaper]], for which she had once worked.<br>
(2) Shell is thus far the only woman to have served as [[mayor]] of Bakersfield.<br>
(3) Mary Shell, then Mary Hosking, first caught the attention of [[Joe Shell]] when she organized [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Kern County into a largely [[Republican Party|Republican]] stronghold. She went on to co-manage Shell's 1962 [[Governor|gubernatorial]] campaign in Kern County when Shell faced [[Richard M. Nixon]] in the [[primary]].<br>
(4) Like her third husband, Joe Shell, Mary held a pilot's license and had great interest in aviation.<br>
(5) Mary Shell once challenged [[NBC]]'s ''The Tonight Show'' host [[Johnny Carson]] for his dismissive line about "beautiful downtown Bakersfield."}}
'''Mary Katherine Jaynes Shell''', previously '''Mary Hosking''', usually known as '''Mary K. Shell''' (February 9, 1927 – June 14, 2018),<ref>{{cite web|url=
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bakersfield/obituary.aspx?pid=189315707|title=Mary Shell obituary|publisher=''The Bakersfield Californian''|date=June 17, 2018|accessdate=September 14, 2019}}</ref> was the first woman to have served as [[mayor]] of Bakersfield, [[California]] (1981–1985) and only the second woman to have served on the Kern Count] County Board of Supervisors (1985–1997). At the time of her retirement from public office, Shell was termed by ''The Bakersfield Californian'' as "the most popular [[politician]] in Kern County history."
She was the [[widow]] of [[Joe Shell|Joseph C. Shell, Sr.]], a [[Republican Party|Republican]] former minority leader of the California State Assembly from [[Los Angeles]], who was [[Richard M. Nixon]]'s intra-party opponent for [[governor]] in 1962 and a lawmaker who fought to bring water to southern California in the 1960s.<ref>[http://www.sanmarinotribune.com/tribune/read/publisher_02/2008-04-08.01 San Marino Tribune - serving San Marino, CA<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==Three marriages==
In 1945, at the age of eighteen, she married Don Sticker, but the couple [[divorce]]d in 1948. She then married Richard "Dick" Hosking, by whom she had three children: Geoffrey Richard Hosking (born 1951), Timothy William Hosking (1952-1979),<ref name=roots/> and Meredith Katherine Hosking (1959-1981). The couple lived briefly in the [[San Jose]] area, where Hosking attended law school, and she worked at the San Jose Airport. They soon returned to Bakersfield, and she became a secretary to a [[cotton]] cooperative. Hosking served on the Bakersfield City Council from 1965 to 1969. Mary and Dick separated in 1967 and divorced two years later. The next year, she wed Joe Shell, a distinguished flight instructor during [[World War II]] who, like her, held a pilot's license. In 1947, Mary K. first met Joe Shell, who was then married to the former Barbara Morton. He flew his plane to Bakersfield where he had interests in his [[oil]] business, landing at La Cresta Airfield, where Mary worked. When Joe ran for governor of California in 1962, she helped in his campaign in Kern County.<ref name=kern/> Mary was later a reporter-photographer and then, the editor, of ''The News Bulletin,'' a semi-weekly newspaper serving metropolitan Bakersfield.<ref name=women>[http://www.firstwomenofkern.org/stories/storyReader$62 First Women of Kern County : Shell, Mary K<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Mary and Dick separated in 1967 and divorced two years later. The next year, she wed Joe Shell, a distinguished flight instructor during [[World War II]] who, like her, held a pilot's license. In 1947, Mary K. first met Joe Shell, who was then married to the former Barbara Jean Morton (1919-1995). After Joe and Barbara divorced, Barbara married a man named "Pearson." He flew his plane to Bakersfield where he had interests in his [[oil]] business, landing at La Cresta Airfield, where Mary worked. When Joe ran for governor of California in 1962, she helped in his campaign in Kern County.<ref name=kern/> Mary was later a reporter-photographer and then, the editor, of ''The News Bulletin,'' a semi-weekly newspaper serving metropolitan Bakersfield.<ref name=women>[http://www.firstwomenofkern.org/stories/storyReader$62 First Women of Kern County : Shell, Mary K<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==Capital correspondent==
From 1970 to 1980, Mary K. Shell was a correspondent based in the state capital in [[Sacramento]] for ''The Californian'' and the syndicated Capitol News Service. She covered the legislature and other state agencies: "That was before we even had [[fax machine]]s," she recalls. She wrote her weekly column on a [[typewriter]] and shipped it to Bakersfield on a Greyhound bus. Shell's old job was discontinued by the newspaper in 2007 because of financial reasons.<ref>[http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/politicsanyone/t1183273200 Politics, anyone? - Bakersfield.com - More than before<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Shell won honors: the 1972 Excellence in Reporting Award from the California Trial Lawyers Association and the 1975 California Taxpayers Reporting Award for her revelations about excessive early retirement benefits for legislators, a phenomenon unknown to most California voters. Joe was a [[lobbyist]] for oil companies while the couple lived in Sacramento. During that period, they generally made two trips monthly to Bakersfield, where they would move permanently in 1980.<ref name=kern/>
In 1978, the Shells opened an oil business together and drilled four heavy-oil wells in at the Deer Creek field in Tulare County located adjacent to Kern County. Because their name "Shell" was trademark to a large oil company, the Shells called their company, Concho Petroleum. They maintained the low-output wells until 1993.<ref name=kern/>
==Family tragedies==
Tragedy struck in 1979, when her younger son Tim, at twenty-six, who had fallen into a life of [[alcohol]] and despair, died of a drug overdose.<ref name=kern/>
Thereafter, Shell decided to run for mayor after the three-term incumbent Donald M. Hart announced that he would not seek reelection. She went on to win the nonpartisan runoff election against [[Sheriff]] Charles Dodge, who had led in the first round of balloting by only twenty-five votes. Although many campaigns stop their intense efforts on election eve, Shell persisted through election day; her grass roots volunteers walked door to door until the polls closed on election night.<ref name=kern/> Early in the term, a second tragedy occurred when daughter Meredith died at the age of twenty-two of [[cardiac arrest]] caused by medications. And Dick Hosking died thereafter.<ref name=kern/> ==Public accomplishments==
Early in the termAs mayor, a second tragedy occurred when daughter Meredith died at the age of twentyShell promoted civic self-two of esteem. She reached out to the minority community. She chided [[cardiac arrestNBC]] caused by medications's ''The Tonight Show'' host [[Johnny Carson]] for his reference to "beautiful downtown Bakersfield." Carson also referred to Burbank, California though his remarks were not considered malicious. Shell said that she "tried to get Johnny Carson to come here and see for himself [the improvements in Bakersfield. And Dick Hosking died thereafterHe never made it."<ref name=kern/>
==Public A partial list of her accomplishmentsinclude:<br>(1) Founding the Beautiful Bakersfield Committee with an annual awards dinner and the restoration of the community [[Christmas]] parade.<ref name==autogenerated1>[http://www.cmconvention.org/who.html Who?<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><br>
As mayor, Shell promoted civic self-esteem. She reached out (2) Establishing a committee of veteran’s organizations to build a memorial to the minority community. She chided [[NBCMedal of Honor]]'s ''The Tonight Show'' host recipient Larry Pierce of Bakersfield and to all from Kern County who served in the [[Johnny CarsonVietnam War]] for his reference to "beautiful downtown Bakersfield." Carson also referred to Burbank, California though his remarks were not considered malicious. Shyell said that she "tried to get Johnny Carson to come here and see for himself [The memorial is located at the improvements in Bakersfieldcounty courts building. He never made it."<ref name=kern/br>
A partial list of her accomplishments include:(3) Creating the Bakersfield Historical Preservation Commission.<br>
(1) Founding the Beautiful Bakersfield Committee with an annual awards dinner and the restoration of the community [[Christmas]] parade.<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.cmconvention.org/who.html Who?<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>(2) Establishing a committee of veteran’s organizations to build a memorial to [[Medal of Honor]] recipient Larry Pierce of Bakersfield and to all from Kern County who served in the [[Vietnam War]]. The memorial is located at the county courts building.(3) Creating the Bakersfield Historical Preservation Commission.(4) Establishing the annual Bakersfield Prayer Breakfast.<br>
(5) Serving on the California Local Government Task Force under appointment from Republican Governor George Deukmejian.<ref name=women />
==Supervisor Shell=Most memorable achievement===
In 1985When asked her most memorable accomplishment in office, Shell vacated replied that it was the office diversion of mayor, having been elected grant funds to the first of three four-year terms on the also nonpartisan Kern County Board of Supervisors. As establish a supervisor, she also served two years as chairman lighted [[soccer]] field in an underserved area of the agriculture committee of the California State Association of Counties city and as a subcommittee chairman of the National Association of Counties Agriculture Committeecoordination undertaken for an American Youth Soccer Organization program. She represented Kern County on the San Joaquin Valley air pollution control district. After her tenure as a county supervisor, Shell did consulting work for individuals recalls having difficulty with government stopped at [[bureaucracyMcDonalds]] [[restaurant]] one day. A young woman followed her out to say, "Thank you so much – my brother was headed for trouble. Having the soccer field in our neighborhood made a difference. He joined AYSO and regulationschanged his life."<ref name=autogenerated1 women /> ==Supervisor Shell==
In 1985, Shell vacated the office of mayor, having been elected to the first of three four-year terms on the also nonpartisan Kern County Board of Supervisors. As a supervisor, she also served two years as chairman of the agriculture committee of the California State Association of Counties and as a subcommittee chairman of the National Association of Counties Agriculture Committee. She represented Kern County on the San Joaquin Valley air pollution control district. After her tenure as a county supervisor, Shell did consulting work for individuals having difficulty with government [[bureaucracy]] and regulations.<ref name=autogenerated1 />
In her first election as supervisor from a predominantly minority district in southeastern Bakersfield, Shell defeated Richard Ybarra, a son-in-law of [[Hispanic]] [[organized labor|labor]] organizer [[Cesar Chavez]], 52.4 to 47.5 percent. She was unopposed in 1988. In 1992, after [[redistricting]], her district became even more prominently Hispanic and [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] in orientation with the inclusion of the Arvin and Lamont neighborhoods. Shell still polled 61.2 percent of the vote against Ray Gonzales and another candidate. She did not seek a fourth term in 1996, and the position went to Peter "Pete" Parra.
While in office, she personally hosted many social gatherings and joined constituents in cleaning up litter-strewn lots. Out of office, she did consulting work for individuals and companies having problems with government [[bureaucracy]].<ref name=kern/>
==Most memorable achievement==When asked her most memorable accomplishment in office, Shell replied that it was the diversion of grant funds to establish a lighted [[soccer]] field in an underserved area of the city and the coordination undertaken for an American Youth Soccer Organization program. Shell recalls having stopped at [[McDonald’s]] [[restaurant]] one day. A young woman followed her out to say, "Thank you so much – my brother was headed for trouble. Having the soccer field in our neighborhood made a difference. He joined AYSO and changed his life."<ref name=women />==Political power couple==
In their later years, Joe and Mary K. Shell became a political "power couple" in Bakersfield and were often sought out for advice and friendship by aspiring Republican candidates for office. At the funeral of Joe Shell on April 11, 2008, former Kern County Sheriff Carl Sparks recalled that "when I ran for sheriff people told me, ‘The first thing you gotta do is go see Mary and Joe.' That he was willing to see you at all and talk to you as a person was a privilege."<ref>[http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/414524.html Family, friends remember Joe Shell - Latest news | Bakersfield.com - Kern County news, events, shopping & search<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Shell is honored through the naming of the Mary K. Shell Journalism Scholarship and the Mary K. Shell Mental Health Facility in Bakersfield.<ref>[http://www.namicalifornia.org/document-detail.aspx?page=homepage&tabb=mhsaupdates&lang=ENG&idno=348 NAMI California - Informing, Educating & Supporting People With Mental Illness & Their Families<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> She was a member of the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Bakersfield; Joe was a [[Presbyterian]].
Shell is honored through the naming of the Mary K. Shell Journalism Scholarship and the Mary K. Shell Mental Health Facility in Bakersfield.<ref>[http://www.namicalifornia.org/document-detail.aspx?page=homepage&tabb=Referencesmhsaupdates&lang=ENG&idno=348 NAMI California - Informing, Educating & Supporting People With Mental Illness & Their Families<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> She was a member of the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Bakersfield; Joe was a [[Presbyterian]].The couple is interred at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Bakersfield. ==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Journalists]]
[[Category:Catholics]][[Category:Catholic Politicians]]