Shirley Joan Green

Shirley was born on December 21, 1933 in Wichita Falls, Texas to parents Edgar Moore and Cora Day Moore.

Shirley is survived by her daughters, Lynn Green of Austin, Texas and Tracy (Stephen) Anderson of Laramie, Wyoming and her Great Granddaughter Brittney Anderson. Shirley is also survived by her sister Patricia Rendall, of Midland, Texas; her nephews, Robert (Jackie) Rendall of Austin, Texas; Greg (Nanette) Rendall of Eden Prairie, Minnesota and her niece, Elizabeth (Bobby) Lee of Midland, Texas and their families.

Shirley graduated from the University of Texas in 1956 with a degree in Business Administration. She was always interested and active in politics and many community issues. What started as an interest developed into an amazing career. Shirley worked for the Texas Republican Party in Austin until 1967, and was one of the first women to run for public office in Texas in 1964. In 1967, she moved to Washington D.C. to accept a position as Press Assistant for Congressman Robert (Bob) Price. After moving to San Antonio, Texas she was a local campaign manager for numerous Republican candidates in Texas, including President Gerald Ford in 1976 and James A. Baker in 1978. Shirley has always stated that her incredible career path began when Jim Baker recommended for the Bush Presidential campaign. She was coordinator for the Bush for President in Texas and Arkansas. Shirley served as public affairs director and editor of Partyline Magazine for the Texas Federation of Republican Women from 1969 to 1973. In 1980, she returned to Washington D.C. with the Reagan/Bush administration as Deputy and acting Press Secretary for Vice President Bush. She was Director of Public Affairs from 1985 to 1986 for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and in 1987 became the Deputy Associate Administrator Communications for NASA. In 1989, she was appointed Special Assistant to the President for Presidential Messages and Correspondence in the Bush administration and Deputy Assistant to the President in 1992. Thereafter, she was Director of the George Bush Transition Office and in 1993 became director of Program Support at the International Republican Institute. In 1996, Shirley moved to Austin, Texas and worked for Governor George W. Bush as director of Correspondent and Constituent services.

Shirley received many awards including being listed as a noteworthy communications executive and information officer by Marquis Who’s Who. She was voted as one on ten Outstanding Republican Women in Texas in 1979. She received the Exceptional Service medal from NASA in 1989. Additionally, she accepted a Presidential Appointment in 2003 on the J. William Fulbright Scholarship Board. She became Vice-Chair from 2004-2005 and was elected chair of the Scholarship Board in 2007.

Shirley was a social, active woman who was deeply involved in politics and communications for the majority of her life. She enjoyed reading and gardening. Her family and friends will always remember her as a loyal, hardworking person with great integrity. She will also be remembered as an amazing mentor to the many young people who had the privilege to be guided and taught by her. Shirley would say she was the one who was blessed to have known and worked with so many wonderful and gracious people. Her love and gratitude for Jim Baker and the Bushes for having faith in her in a challenging time in her life helped make her the incredible woman she was. Shirley met and made incredible friends throughout her career, and she was forever grateful to all of them.

A Memorial Service for Shirley will be at Westminster Presbyterian Church at 3208 Exposition Blvd, Austin, TX 78703 at 2:00 p.m. on March 22, 2024. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the National Alzheimer’s Association 225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60601-7633 or your local chapter.