Dr. Shelby Miller Elliott, 89, passed from this life on August 19, 2015.
Dr. Elliott was born June 24, 1926 in Wild Cherry, Arkansas to Rule Preston Elliott and Lucy Ann Miller Elliott.
Leaving Wild Cherry, Arkansas at the age of nine his family moved to Paducah, Kentucky. After his service in the U.S. Navy, he received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from both Texas Chiropractic College in San Antonio, Texas and Logan Chiropractic College in St. Louis, Missouri.
Following graduation he started his chiropractic practice in Dayton, Texas in 1952. He was elected President of Texas Chiropractic College, Pasadena, Texas in 1990, retiring in 2007.
Dr. Elliott was extremely active in the chiropractic profession. He served all offices of the Texas Chiropractic Association, and nine years on the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners. His service on the American Chiropractic Association Board of Governors, included a historic five terms as Chairman of the Board.
Despite his busy professional schedule he always took time for civic affairs.
A charter member of Dayton American Legion Post 512, he served as Post Commander for over twenty years. In 2013, Post 512 recognized his 61 years of service.
The Dayton Masonic Lodge honored his 60 years of membership in 2013. He served as Dayton Democratic Precinct Chairman and nine years on the Dayton Independent School Board, including President.
A past president of the Dayton Rotary Club, he joined the Pasadena Rotary Club in 1990. He was a Paul Harris Fellow, and achieved over fifty-one years of perfect Rotary attendance. In 2007, the Pasadena Rotary Club granted him an Honorary Rotarian Emeritus status for his fifty-five years of service.
He served on the Liberty-Dayton Chamber of Commerce Board, served as Chairman of the Board of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and as Chairman of the Southeast Economic Development Board.
He served on the Moody National Bank Board from 2000-2004, prior to being appointed to the American National Insurance Company Board in 2004.
Some of the awards recognizing his civic and professional service include: Texas Chiropractic Association District 11 “Doctor of the Year”; Texas Chiropractic Association Young Chiropractor of the Year; Texas Chiropractic Association’s “Keeler Plaque Award”; Texas Chiropractic College’s “William D. Harper Science of Existence Award”; The American Chiropractic Association’s “Doctor of the Year”; Logan Chiropractic College “Alumni of the Year”; The Parker Chiropractic Foundation Outstanding Doctor of the Year from the Southern United States; Dayton Citizen of the Year; and Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. In 2006 “The Dr. Shelby and Connie Elliott Auditorium” at Texas Chiropractic College was named in honor of his service.
He loved his Lord. A lifetime Christian, he was a member of First Baptist Church of Pasadena, Texas.
At the insistence of friends and family he wrote his autobiography, A Lifetime of Opportunities in 2010.
He was preceded in death by his parents Rule and Lucy Elliott; his sister Norma Ruth Elliott Smith; brothers Freece R. Elliott and Orbie M. Elliott; and daughter Deborah Diane Elliott.
He is survived by his wife Connie Parks Elliott; sons and daughter-in-laws Steve Miller Elliott, D. C. and Laurie Elliott of Liberty, Texas, Terry Mark Elliott and Net Elliott of Houston, Texas, and Vance Rice Elliott and Heather Elliott of Columbus, Texas; brother Horace C. Elliott and wife Sue of Humble, Texas; brother-in-law Frank A. Parks and wife Kim of Rusk, Texas; sister-in-laws Beverly Elliott of Houston, Texas, Nancy Elliott of Scarborough, Maine, Alice Parks Laza and husband Thomas of Livingston, Texas; the mother of his children Betty Lucy Rice Elliott of Dayton, Texas; Grandchildren Rebecca Elliott-James, R. Miller Elliott, Joshua Elliott, D. C. and wife Jill, Michael Elliott, Stacey Elliott and Blake Elliott; great grandchildren Brycelynn James, Blake James, Bridgette James, Blain James, Andrew Elliott and Caleb Elliott; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Visitation will be held Friday, August 21, 2015, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Rosewood Funeral Home, 3939 Pasadena Blvd., Pasadena, Texas 77503. Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 22, 2015, at the First Baptist Church of Pasadena, Texas and interment will be held at Magnolia Cemetery in Dayton, Texas at 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests making donations to Texas Chiropractic College or First Baptist Church of Pasadena Building Fund.