Richard Shelby

Birth Name: Richard Craig Shelby

Place of Birth: Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.

Date of Birth: May 6, 1934

Ethnicity: English, some Scottish

Richard Shelby is an American politician. He has been a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama, from January 3, 1979 to January 3, 1987, and a U.S. Senator from Alabama, from January 3, 1987 to January 3, 2023; as well as, Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, from January 3, 1997 to January 3, 2001, and again, from January 20, 2001 to June 6, 2001; Chair of the Senate Banking Committee, from January 3, 2003 to January 3, 2007, and again, from January 3, 2015 to January 3, 2017; Chair of the Senate Rules Committee, from January 3, 2017 to April 10, 2018; and Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, from April 10, 2018 to February 3, 2021, among other duties. He has been a Republican since 1994, and was previously a Democrat.

Richard is the son of Alice Leon (Skinner) and Ozie Houston Shelby. He is married to Annette Nevin, with whom he has two children.

Richard’s paternal grandfather was William Cobb “Willie” Shelby (the son of William Houston Shelby and Elizabeth Malone Cobb). Richard’s grandfather William was born in Alabama. Richard’s great-grandfather William was the son of John Rufus Shelby and Mary Ann Deaton. Elizabeth was the daughter of James Jackson Cobb and Elizabeth Malone “Betsy” Campbell.

Richard’s paternal grandmother was Violia “Lola” McClendon (the daughter of Jacob McClendon and Sarah Dennis). Jacob was the son of Thomas McClendon and Sarah Elizabeth Cooper. Richard’s great-grandmother Sarah was the daughter of Posey Dennis and Sealah Burrough/Burrong. Richard’s McClendon line appears to trace back to Thomas McClendon, who was born, c. 1690, in Scotland.

Richard’s maternal grandfather was Thomas Hosea Skinner (the son of Thomas H. Skinner and Martha Olivia Perkins). Richard’s grandfather Thomas was born in Alabama. Richard’s great-grandfather Thomas was the son of Thomas J. Skinner and Ann B.

Richard’s maternal grandmother was named Mary/Mollie Estelle Miller. Mollie was born in Mississippi.

Sources: Genealogy of Richard Shelby (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Death record of Richard’s paternal grandmother, Violia “Lola” (McClendon) Shelby – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Richard Shelby (focusing on his mother’s side) – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com