In honor of Valentine’s Day, today, here is a look back at an iconic Dickinson Law couple: The Honorable Dale F. Shughart and his wife, Mary Ann.
Judge Dale Shughart was born on July 21, 1913 in South Middleton Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Boiling Springs High School before earning a Ph.B. from Dickinson College. He then taught for two years before enrolling at The Dickinson School of Law. After graduating from The Dickinson School of Law in 1938, Judge Shughart entered private practice, while also working as an attorney for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. As a result of World War II, Judge Shughart enlisted in the Army, where he earned three Battle Stars and a Bronze Star. After the war, Judge Shughart returned to private practice. In 1946, Judge Shughart was appointed district attorney, and in 1947, he was elected as Judge in Cumberland County. In 1958, Judge Shughart began teaching Pennsylvania Practice at the Law School. (He subsequently wrote a casebook on the subject.) On June 1, 1962, the Trustees’ of the Law School elected Judge Shughart to serve as President of the Law School. He served in that capacity until 1993.
As with many other alumni of the Law School, Judge Shughart’s accomplishments, both on the bench and off, were numerous. However, if Judge Shughart were alive today, he would no doubt agree that he could not have accomplished so much without the support of his loving wife, Mary Ann, who was a substantial contributor to the Law School and the Carlisle community in her own right. (In 1990, the General Alumni Association bestowed upon Mary Ann the title of honorary alumnae for her support of the Law School.)
Judge Shughart’s love and respect for his wife were well known, as he did not hesitate to publicly credit her for her support. ~ Deb Ryerson, former Director, Career Services, Penn State Dickinson School of Law.
He adored her and she adored him…They had a mutual respect for each other’s opinions. ~ Robert Frey, Class of 1953, who succeeded Judge Shughart as President of the Law School.
The Judge and Mary Ann have always been a team. ~ Sidney D. Kline, Class of 1956 and former secretary for the Law School’s Board of Governors.
It was a partnership. I became involved in whatever he did, and I had the same feeling for the Law School he had….He was a great human being…There was never any change in him. It was always utter devotion and love. ~ Mary Ann Shughart.
Deb Ryerson, The Shugharts: A Legendary Partnership, The Dickinson Lawyer, 2000.
One symbol of the love between Judge Shughart and Mary Ann was the flower that Judge Shughart wore in his lapel every day.
We were walking down the street in Philadelphia (in 1942) right before he was leaving for overseas…And he said to me, ‘When I went to law school, my mother would put a flower in my lapel each day.’ His first Christmas back, I gave him a card that said, “As long as I am living and able, I will see that there is a flower in your lapel every day.” ~ Mary Ann Shughart.
Deb Ryerson, The Shugharts: A Legendary Partnership, The Dickinson Lawyer, 2000.
Mary Ann kept her promise until Judge Shughart passed away on October 9, 2000. Mary Ann Shughart passed away on October 17, 2004.