Shirley Caldwell leaves legacy
By Melinda L. Lucas
In 1962, when Shirley Welch Caldwell first moved with her husband Clifton to Shackelford County, where his family had deep roots, there was little evidence of the importance her presence would eventually have on the community and even on the entire state.
Caldwell, who died last week just a couple of weeks shy of her 86th birthday, was busy at that time raising five children and making a home. Over the next 50-plus years, however, she and Clifton would become mainstays in the preservation of both their own downtown and many other entities and institutions across Texas.
Shirley attributed her initial interest in history to her husband and her enthusiasm for research to Fandangle creator Robert Nail. In fact, the last of several research efforts over her lifetime was to make sure that Nail’s contributions were properly documented, as she spent the last few years writing a book about Nail’s life.
A native of Missouri, Shirley moved to Dallas after graduating from college and became a diehard Texan almost immediately.
She received numerous awards and accolades from decades of service on state and local boards, such as the Texas Historical Commission, but much of her real work was behind the scenes, despite the fact that Shirley could never be accused of fading into the background.
She wrote applications and text for dozens of historical markers, helped finance the publishing of books on Texas history, and encouraged others to become interested in Texas history and preservation.
She pushed and advised. She promoted Albany, and in many cases, gave time and money to make projects happen. She worked hard to inspire another generation.
A memorial service at the Aztec Theater, which she and Clifton helped to restore, was held June 7, attended by a large crowd of family, friends, and admirers. The service was followed by a reception at the Old Jail Art Center, which houses an archives wing that the Caldwells funded.
A full obituary appears on page 4A of this week’s issue.
