Emmett Hughes Shelton, Sr
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Emmett Hughes Shelton, Sr. | |
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| Born | February 12, 1905 Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | February 29, 2000 (aged 95) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Attorney, Land Developer, Historian, Poet, Storyteller |
| Known for | Founding the Village of West Lake Hills, TX |
| Spouse(s) | Elba May Gilbert (m. 1929), Joyce Bredeson (m. 1962) |
| Children | 4 |
Emmett Hughes Shelton, Sr. (February 12, 1905 – February 29, 2000) was an American attorney, land developer, historian, poet, and storyteller. He is best known for founding the Village of West Lake Hills, Texas, located west of Austin, Texas.
Early Life and Family Background
Emmett Shelton was born on West Live Oak Street in Austin, Texas. He was the fifth of six sons born to Willie Green and John Elbert Shelton. His great-grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Johnson, founded the Johnson Institute on Bear Creek in 1852. His maternal great-grandfather, Crawford Henry Greer, was a plantation owner near Navasota. As a child, Shelton joined the Boy Scouts and became one of the youngest Eagle Scouts in America. He attended the First International Boy Scout Jamboree in London in 1920.
Education
Shelton graduated from Southwest Texas State Teachers' College (now Texas State University) in 1925. He was editor of The College Star and was awarded ten letters in football, basketball, and track. He later became a member of Southwest Texas' Athletic Hall of Honor. In 1989, Shelton was named a SWT Distinguished Alumnus for his contributions in land planning, oral history, law, and poetry.[1]He graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1928.
Career
Shelton practiced law in Austin, engaging in trial and appellate law. During World War II, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 39 and served in the Southwest Pacific. After the war, he purchased land west of Austin and founded the Village of West Lake Hills, Texas, in 1953, and played a significant role in the development of West Lake Hills, Texas. He was a land planner for the city and was instrumental in the establishment of the Emmett Shelton Bridge, which connected West Lake Hills with Austin. [2]
Personal Life
Shelton married Joyce Bredeson in 1962 and they had four sons. As his eyesight failed, he began making recordings about his life experiences, including politics, land development, poetry, history, and anecdotes.
Literary Works
Shelton authored several books, including:
- My Austin: Remembering the Teens and Twenties (ISBN 978-0-89641-268-2)
- Dawn Breaks with Silent Echos
Legacy and Honors
The bridge over Lady Bird Lake at Red Bud Trail was named “The Emmett Shelton Bridge” in his honor by the Austin City Council in 1989. He was also honored by the Texas State Historical Society in 1992.
References
External links
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