John Shelby – We called him Don for he was named after his Famous Uncle Don Shelby who in WWll fought the famous General Rommel and chased him across Africa, then Italy, then Germany so as to defend our Freedom in the USA. John’s father thought that his brother would not make it thru the war so he named one of his sons after his Heroic Brother, John Donald Shelby.  The famous Shelby name in the USA began in the 1700’s when Evan Shelby emigrated to America from Tehigran Gardenshire Wales. The name SHELBY  here in America can trace their roots to this one man, named EVAN SHELBY.

This John Shelby lived up to the task of preserving the integrity of his forefathers.

I had the privilege on knowing Don Shelby when he came from Chicago to Texas to visit his Grandmother Annie Maloney Shelby at Slaton, Texas. David Bednarz and I (Jerry Kitten) did have the privilege of spending the night at the ole Shelby two story home next to the NEW high school. You can imagine, this home had only an evaporative air  conditioner but the best part was waking up and going to school without having to milk the cows, feed the pigs or gather eggs before going to school. It was like a camping out trip  not too far away if only for a day. As city folks their lifestyle was somewhat different than the farm life.

I enjoyed listening to Annie (Don’s grandmother) talk about her life. She told me several times how she would CALL/SING the words to the SQUARE DANCING at Slaton, Texas. How challenging it was for Annie to raise her family after her husband, H. T. Shelby, a railroad engineer, who died from the wreck at Posey, Texas while trying to preserve the Steam Locomotive which ran off the tracks.

Don Shelby joined the Knights of Columbus at Slaton, Texas the same time as I did in 1961.  All too soon he joined the Lubbock Council 3008 to be a charter member. How Blessed he was to have in his heart to DO WHAT IS RIGHT all thru his life.

To look at his attitude in a different way;

Pride is concerned with who is right — while

HUMILITY IS CONCERNED WITH WHAT IS RIGHT.

To my Brother in law, John Don Shelby, son of Henry Howard (LUKE) Shelby, thank you for life here at Slaton, Texas.

Signed, Jerry Kitten

At the rosary service for John Don Shelby, his partner had this to say;

John Shelby, when asked for advice, said HE WANTED TO DO WHAT WAS RIGHT.

Don Shelby said that even when he was in high school at Slaton, Tx.

After researching this some I found in the Bible a story of a famous person from long ago who also had that same words of wisdom — please read this short story.

A woman named Rahab  lived in Jericho when the army of Israel laid siege to the city. She used her street smarts to secure her future by helping two Israelite spies. Not only did she save herself and her family, she ultimately became the GREAT-GRANDMOTHER OF KING DAVID and an ANCESTOR OF JESUS CHRIST.

David was the youngest of his brothers, a shepherd boy who was known only to his family. But when his spiritual sensibilities were offended by a Philistine giant named GOLIATH, he stepped forward – not to make a name for himself but TO DO THE RIGHT THING… He was anointed to be Israel’s king even before this event, he went from shepherd boy to KING.

Jerry says; John Don Shelby was instilled early in life while he lived in Chicago (Harvey) Illinois to live by these simple words – DO WHAT IS RIGHT  – and so  life’s challenges were easy stepping stones for him.

An OLD TESTAMENT SCHOLAR, named TREMPER LONGMAN is quoted in HOW TO READ PROVERBS;

Wisdom is a rich concept and is not easily summarized… Wisdom is the skill of living. It is a practical knowledge that helps one know how to act and how to speak in different situations. Wisdom entails the ability to avoid problems, and the skill to handle them when they present themselves. Wisdom includes the ability to interpret other people’s speech and writing in order to react correctly to what they are saying to us.

A simpler definition of wisdom is this; “DOING THE RIGHT THING WITHOUT A PRECEDENT.” The believer who can respond to an unexpected situation or circumstance in the same way Christ would is someone who has biblical wisdom – the mind of Christ.

When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you.  PROVERBS 2: 10-11.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding.  PROVERBS 3:13.

For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.  PROVERBS 8:11.

Don Shelby, I will see you again in Heaven.