William L. Shields

Retired Brig. General William L. Shields Jr., age 96, passed away on May 16, 2024. He was admired by his colleagues, adored by his family and friends, and will be missed by all that knew him. He is survived by his daughter, Leslie and grandchildren Calvin and Kelly Snead. He was preceded in death by his second wife, Edith (d. 2018), first wife Ruthmary (d. 2003), daughter Laurie (d. 2017) and son William K. (d. 2004).

William (Bill) was born to Uriel and William L. Shields Sr. in Napa, CA. One year later, the family moved to Empire, NV, where his Father worked at the Pacific Portland Cement Co. His Mother was a teacher at the local school. He enjoyed his early years in the rural area, roaming the desert, swimming with friends in a swimming hole, picnics at the lake and camping.

They moved to Briggs, CA in 1937 where Bill attended Briggs High School and was on both the basketball and football teams. He injured his knee playing football and would joke that he shouldn't have played football with a tennis body.

In 1944 Bill went to the University of California at Berkley for two years. He then joined the Army in 1946. In 1948, he was accepted to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he received a B.S. degree and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. In addition to academics, he was on the fencing team and became team captain. During this time, he met Ruthmary who became his loving wife and biggest supporter until her death in 2003.

His education continued during his working career with a master's degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1958 and a PhD in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University in 1967. After graduating from West Point, Bill joined the Air Force and served in the Vietnam War, flying 104 combat missions.

During his 35-year military career, Bill received numerous medals, including Distinguished Service and Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and the Air Medal. He clocked in 3,500 flight hours with 30 different jets and bombers, including his favorites F-4 Phantom II, F-86 Sabre, and T-33 Shooting Star.

His military career was full of accomplishments, the most notable of which include his time as analyst for the Air Force Intelligence Center specializing in the Soviet and Chinese nuclear weapons programs and establishing the scientific research program in aircraft wake turbulence which earned him the Air Force Commendation Medal. He also had the honor of chairing an interagency study of future directions in national space systems development and serving as the Executive Assistant to the Under Secretary of the Air Force, John McLucas.

Bill retired from the military in 1981 as a Brigadier General. He joined BDM as a deputy program manager and participated on the Electrical Systems Review Panel of the Hubble Space Telescope Program. In 1989, Bill became a professor at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering where he developed, directed, and shared in the teaching of an innovative, systems-oriented, interdisciplinary course in aerospace systems design.

He fully retired in 1995, allowing Bill to do what he loved to do most: travel. Some of his favorite places to visit included Switzerland, Italy, and Germany. Later in life, after Ruthmary's passing, Bill traveled across the country, visiting friends and family. He reconnected with longtime friend, Edie Edwards, who had lost her husband several years prior. A year later, Bill married Edie, who became his new supporter and travel partner. They enjoyed 14 years together before her passing in 2018.

Bill relocated from Tucson, AZ, to Las Vegas, NV, in 2020 to be near his daughter, Leslie, to live out the rest of his years. He had a wonderful life full of accomplishments, adventures and people who loved him.

A small committal service will be held at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Tucson, AZ, on July 13, 2024, at 10:30am. In his honor, contributions can be made to one of his favorite charities: Casa de los Ninos, Army Historic Foundation, American Air Museum, and the National Air and Space Museum.