In Memorium

Walter Shipley served as President of the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) in 1994. During that time, we were both on the Executive Committee together—I was SETC Treasurer in 1994 and 1995—and I got to know him fairly well. He had a dry wit, an easy smile, and was, without a doubt, one of the most diplomatic and patient officers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with during those early years at SETC. Walter taught theatre at Okaloosa-Walton Community College for many years, and his students absolutely adored him.  

One of my most vivid memories of Walter revolves around the President’s Dinner. Back then, the dinner was a much more formal affair than it is today. If I remember correctly, it was held on the Wednesday night before the convention really began, and it was often hosted at a grand private home, usually that of a local university president. 

In 1994, when Walter was president, SETC’s convention took place in Savannah, Georgia. Marian Smith, SETC’s Executive Director at the time, had arranged for horse-drawn carriages to transport the members of the Executive Committee from the old DeSoto Hilton Hotel to the dinner venue. Walter, never one for fanfare or extravagance, was clearly uncomfortable with this grand gesture. I can still picture his expression—visibly embarrassed, rolling his eyes as we paraded through downtown Savannah like some kind of 19th-century aristocrats. He silently mouthed the words, “This wasn’t my idea,” to anyone who happened to make eye contact during the “procession.”  

I happened to be in Walter’s carriage that evening, and as luck would have it, the horse pulling our carriage had apparently suffered some kind of intestinal distress. We made several stops along the way, each one accompanied by noxious fumes and unpleasant liquid droppings. The trip, to put it mildly, was an experience we would never forget. For years afterward, we would laugh about it, and every President following Walter made sure to let Marian know, “No more horses!”  

Beyond his humor and warmth, Walter was a genuinely kind and generous man. He dedicated countless hours and much energy to serving SETC and its members. He was one of the rare officers from that time who truly viewed his role as a way to provide service to the organization, rather than simply using it as a social platform for theatre professors. In a simpler time—when SETC’s total budget in 1994 was under $250,000—Walter’s leadership helped set the foundation for the organization’s future growth.  

Walter Shipley was an early leader who made a lasting impact on SETC, and his contributions will not be forgotten.