Longtime Beaumont Fire Chief and community leader Chester A. “Pete” Shelton died peacefully in his home on July 25, 2024, at 92 years old. He is revered as one of the most influential leaders in the fire service and our community.
Pete was born in Beaumont, Texas, to Ralph Dewey Shelton and Helen Mary Enderle on June 25, 1932. Growing up in the depression, Pete learned to appreciate the value of hard work and having the ability to provide for his family. He grew up in a devout Catholic family who instilled that faith in him. Pete enjoyed helping his father raise many small farm animals as a young child. When he wasn’t helping with the animals, he would help with his family’s garden, where he developed a love for gardening that he would carry with him into his adult life.
His childhood home was right behind Fire Station 7, where his father worked as a Beaumont firefighter for part of his career. He enjoyed playing with his siblings and friends around the fire station in his free time and listening for the tones to come through the station. This early exposure to the fire service greatly influenced his decision to join the Beaumont Fire Department after graduating from St. Anthony High School in 1950, where he proudly served with his father, brother, and uncle. The family tradition grew when his son, Patrick Shelton, became a Beaumont firefighter.
He started his career with the Beaumont Fire Department in 1950. His commitment to service grew rapidly as he progressed through the ranks, earning the appointment to Fire Chief in 1976. He joined the US Army in 1958 and proudly remained in the US Army Reserve until 1966. During his 20-year tenure as Beaumont Fire Chief, he provided us with a shining example of what service to the community is. He developed the Beaumont Fire Training grounds, a world-class training facility that still exists today. He established the Fire Department Headquarters building, a state-designated historical landmark, as the Beaumont Fire Department Historical Museum. In 1986, this museum was established as the State Fire Museum of Texas. Through his leadership, he was able to relocate fire stations, improve response times, establish a maintenance shop for fire and emergency services vehicles, and many other progressive accomplishments for the department. In 1987, he worked with the International Association of Fire Chiefs to develop the Fire Chief’s Code of Ethics, which remains a guiding resource for Fire Chiefs today. In addition, he served tirelessly, gaining many more accomplishments than those noted, and served in leadership capacities on numerous advisory boards and non-profit organizations. He was especially proud of his involvement with the Texas A&M Fire Training School as an instructor and in other capacities for over 40 years. He also served the Sabine Neches Chief’s Association, including a term as the association’s President. During his service career, he earned many local and national awards, highlighting his commitment and love for the fire service and the City of Beaumont. During his time as Fire Chief, he also stepped up to fill the position of interim city manager to help the city through a time of changeover. In addition to his 46 years of service to the city, he was called back to serve the department once more 11 years after his retirement. He returned as Interim Fire Chief in 2007 and served approximately one year while the city worked to find its next Fire Chief.
In addition to the 47 years of service to the Beaumont Fire Department, Pete showed an incredible commitment to the Port of Beaumont by serving on the Board of Commissioners from 1989 to 2019. He served the Port as Vice President and President of the Board of Commissioners for many years. During his thirty-year tenure as a commissioner, the Port of Beaumont saw many advancements and accomplishments. The success and growth of the port provided strength for the City of Beaumont and our entire region. Pete was very committed to advancing the Port of Beaumont, and his service as a commissioner was a source of great pride.
While the number of professional accomplishments is extraordinary, some of his self-proclaimed greatest accomplishments in life were his family. Pete married his beloved wife, Kathleen Corder, in 1961, and they went on to have three kids. When Pete wasn’t working, he enjoyed going to the family cabin at Crystal Beach, taking everyone to watch Patrick play baseball at West End Little League and to see football games at Forest Park High School. Pete also enjoyed hunting in his free time. After retirement, Pete enjoyed spending time with his family, including his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He maintained good relationships with his many friends, especially his St. Anthony High School buddies. He was well known for keeping a consistent weekly gathering at Market Basket for coffee and conversation.
Pete was a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He loved his family and cherished every one of them. He was also a pillar of our community, exhibiting a community-oriented personality throughout his life. He believed it was important for future generations to understand that “it is very important to be involved in your community and always to do the right thing.” He believed in fully dedicating yourself to anything you do, big or small. He also believed in the importance of telling the people that you love how much you care for them. This embodied the caring heart he displayed through his work and throughout his life. His honorable life has made an imprint on all who had the pleasure of knowing him, and he will be deeply missed by all.
C.A. Pete Shelton is preceded in death by his parents, Helen Mary and Ralph Dewey Shelton, Sr.; sister, Joann Shelton; brothers, Leon Buddy Shelton and Ralph Dewey Shelton, Jr.; and sister, Helen Marie Hale. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Kathleen Shelton; his son, Patrick Shelton; his daughters, Karen Whynot and husband, Bob and Jill Proctor and husband, Jay; grandchildren, Kathleen Hendon and husband, Cody; Anthony Fazio and wife, Kate; Anna Foster and husband, Matthew; and Ford Proctor and wife, Madison. He is also survived by eight great-grandchildren.
The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to Harbor Hospice and Lainie Banner for their compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lamar Institute of Technology Foundation Chief Pete Shelton Scholarship Endowment on the LiT website at www.lit.edu/foundation/ways-to-give/donate-now P.O. Box 10085, Beaumont, Texas 77710. For more information, please contact Krista Hunter by emailfoundation@lit.eduor telephone (409) 839-2956.
They also may be made to the Fire Museum of Texas, 400 Walnut Street, Beaumont, Texas 77701 or the St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica School, 850 Forsythe Street, Beaumont, Texas 77701 www.sacbstx.org/page/annual-giving.
A Rosary for Chief Shelton will be recited at 4:30 p.m., with a time of sharing to follow until 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, 700 Jefferson Street, Beaumont. His interment with honors by the Beaumont Fire Department with follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.
