Ethan A.H. Shepley

Ethan Allen Hitchcock Shepley was born on May 3, 1896, in Vandeventer, St. Louis, Missouri, to Sarah (née Hitchcock) and John Foster Shepley. Through his mother, he was a descendant of early American revolutionary Ethan Allen. His father and grandfather were both graduates of Washington University in St. Louis. Shepley was educated at Smith Academy in St. Louis and attended a private school in Pennsylvania. He earned his undergraduate degree at Yale University and entered Harvard Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1921 and finished his law degree at Washington University in St. Louis in 1922. ==Career==

Law and political career From 1921 to 1954, Shepley practiced law in St. Louis. From 1948 to 1949, he was Missouri State Republican Finance Chairman and was a member of the Republican National Finance Committee. Washington University From 1940 to 1954, Shepley was a member of Washington University's board of directors. He was elected as chairman of the board in 1951. Following the resignation of Arthur Compton, he served as temporary chancellor of the university. He became chancellor in 1954 and was the first alumnus to hold the position. Shepley expressed support for younger generations protesting materialistic wealth in the 1960s. ==Personal life==

Shepley married Sophie Baker. They had two sons and two daughters, Ethan A. H. Jr., Lewis B., Mrs. William G. Moore Jr. and Mrs. Jack E. Pelissier. He enjoyed reading historical novels. Shepley died of cancer on June 21, 1975, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. He was cremated. ==Awards==

Shepley received the Alexander Meiklejohn Award for Academic Freedom from the American Association of University Professors in 1959. This followed Shepley's defense of gynecologist William Masters in 1954 for his research on sexual function. ==References==