Joe Shell

Who was Joe Shell?

Joseph Claude Shell, Sr. was an American oil producer and lobbyist who represented District 58 in the California State Assembly from 1953-1963 and was the Assembly Republican Minority Leader.

Shell is best remembered for having unsuccessfully opposed Richard Nixon, in the primary election for governor of California on June 5, 1962. Shell, however, contended that Nixon actually opposed him, for Shell had been committed to the governor's race for a year before Nixon's own entry.

Shell is also remembered for his work in the early 1960s in locating additional water sources to sustain the future growth of California.