William Ross "Bill" Shuffield

William Ross Shuffield is one of the Founders of Record. He and John Floyd are believed to have been the guiding force behind the formation of the Red Shirts in 1934-35. Shuffield, Floyd and Floyd's younger brother Dave, were all graduates and standout football players from Nashville, Ark. Not surprisingly, most of the early Red Shirts were involved with varsity athletics, and many of them hailed from southern Arkansas. Bill Shuffield probably entered Ouachita College in Fall 1931. He played football in 1931-1932 and 1932-1933, and was a member of the O Association, Ouachita's letterman's club. Shuffield was assistant manager of the football team in Fall 1934 and Fall 1935. It seems probable that Shuffield, a tight end, was sidelined with an injury, prompting him to assume the role of team manager. This could, in fact, be one explanation of the choice of "Red Shirts" as the name for the new fraternity. A red shirt is a valued football player who is held in reserve to protect his eligibility. In practice, these players are distinguished by red jersies to prevent injuries. Shuffield was Senior Class treasurer in 1936. He listed his years as a Red Shirt as 1934-36, serving as president in Spring 1936. The student body voted Shuffield Most Handsome for the 1933-34 Campus Who's Who sponsored by The Signal and Ouachitonian staffs. A couple of years after graduation, Shuffield moved to Louisiana. He lived in Houma, Morgan City, New Iberia and Lafayette. For most of those years he worked for Mid Continent Supply Company selling oilfield equipment. He was transferred several times and retired in the late Sixties while living in Lafayette. He married Margaret in the mid-Forties. Son by the marriage was William Ross Shuffield Jr., who currently teaches classes in real estate at Louisiana State University. After retirement, Shuffield Sr. and his family moved back to Houma, La., where he was involved in the family business. The Shuffields later moved to Baton Rouge, La. They lived near the home of their son and played a big role in the lives of his children when they were growing up. William Ross Shuffield Sr. died peacefully in Baton Rouge in 1993 at age 79. Like John Floyd, Shuffield epitomized the Red Shirts. He will always be remembered by Rho Sigma.