John Ben Shepperd

John Ben Shepperd (October 19, 1915 – March 8, 1990) was an American lawyer, businessman, and politician who served as the secretary of state (1950–1952) and attorney general (1953–1957) for the U.S. state of Texas.

Early life and education John Ben Shepperd was born in Gladewater, Texas to Alfred Fulton Shepperd and Berthal (Phillips) Shepperd. He came from a political family. His father served as a county commissioner in Gregg County, Texas. His grandfather, Ben Phillips, served in the Texas House of Representatives in the 1880s.

While attending the University of Austin, he met fellow student Mamie (Steiber) Shepperd of Yorktown, Texas. They were married in 1938 and had two sons, Johnny and Al, and twin daughters, Marianne (Morse) and Suzanne (McIntosh).

Political career After a short period in private practice and two years in the military, Shepperd was elected to the Gregg County Commissioners Court in 1946 at the age of 30. Shepperd presented the State of Texas plan before the Court on behalf of the State of Texas. In discussing his arguments before the Court, Shepperd stated "The Supreme Court cannot be the master school board for the nation." He further stated "It is unrealistic to think that Edwards County, with one school-aged Negro, and Marion County, with its sixty percent Negro school population, may have their different problems solved from Washington or even Austin." The incident gained national attention and infuriated Governor Allan Shivers, who referred to the NAACP as "paid agitators", and sought to curb the group's power in Texas, using the office of the Texas Attorney General. From 1963-1967, Shepperd headed the renamed Texas Historical Commission and supported the placement of more markers along highways to promote historical preservation. He served on the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. He pushed for the establishment in the late 1960s of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. In 1995 the Texas Legislature created the John Ben Shepperd Leadership Institute at the University of Texas Permian Basin which assists students in developing the techniques to become effective leaders.

As Attorney General, he led multiple investigations of alleged communist infiltration of trade unions attempting to organize themselves in Texas.

He was also involved in the planning and expansion of the Presidential Museum and Leadership Library, an institution on the UTPB campus dedicated to the office of the presidency. The "Library of Presidents" at the museum is named in Shepperd's honor. In 1984, Shepperd was named “Texan of the Year” by the state Chamber of Commerce, and three years later, the West Texas Chamber named him “Outstanding West Texan”. The saying "Freedom is not Free" is attributed to him.