Charlotte Mailliard Shultz

Charlotte Mailliard Shultz
Mailliard in June 2021
Born
Charlotte Smith

(1933-09-26)September 26, 1933
Borger, Texas, U.S.
DiedDecember 3, 2021(2021-12-03) (aged 88)
Stanford, California, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Arkansas (BA)
Occupation(s)Philanthropist
Chief of Protocol for the City and County of San Francisco
Spouses
John Ward Mailliard III
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(died 1986)​
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(m. 1988; died 1993)​
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(m. 1997; died 2021)​

Charlotte Mailliard Shultz (née Smith; September 26, 1933 – December 3, 2021) was a socialite and philanthropist. She was the Chief of Protocol for the state of California, and the Chief of Protocol for the City and County of San Francisco.[1] She was married to former United States Secretary of State George P. Shultz,[2] from 1997 until his death in 2021.

Mailliard Shultz was President of the board of the War Memorial Performing Arts Center and a member of the boards of the San Francisco Symphony, Grace Cathedral, the Commonwealth Club of California, and the San Francisco Ballet.[3] A native Texan, Mailliard Shultz often quipped about San Francisco, "... if I don't pay my dues, they may send me back to Texas!"[4]

Early life and education

Born Charlotte Smith on September 26, 1933,[5] in Borger, Texas, the daughter of Martha Morgan and Charles Samuel Smith, Jr., who ran the local general store.[2][6] She graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in fashion design, marketing, and merchandising.[7]

Career

Shultz with Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a memorial reception for her husband, October 2021

In her role as Chief of Protocol for San Francisco, Mailliard had been called the "city's premier party-giver" by the San Francisco Chronicle.[8] Her role as Chief of Protocol began as a volunteer for then-San Francisco mayor Jack Shelley and spanned seven mayoral administrations until mayor Frank Jordan's term. Jordan chose Richard Goldman as his Chief of Protocol. Mayor Willie Brown re-appointed Mailliard to the post in 1996.[9] In total, she served as Chief of Protocol for eight mayoral administrations and during that time brought back the city's Black and White Ball, organized the 50th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge with the Golden Gate Bridge Walk (where one million pedestrians walked across the bridge), and welcomed British royalty and Pope John Paul II on their visits to the city.[10]

In 2003, in San Francisco, a surprise party was held to honor her work on behalf of the city. Baseball legend Willie Mays, incoming and outgoing mayors Willie Brown and Gavin Newsom, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his then-wife Maria Shriver were in attendance. It was announced that the staircase of San Francisco City Hall would be known as the Charlotte Mailliard Shultz Staircase.[11]

In 2004,[1] Governor Schwarzenegger appointed her as Chief of Protocol for the State of California.[12]

Personal life

After moving to San Francisco, Mailliard met her first husband, John Ward Mailliard III, who died of cancer in 1986. In 1988, she married Melvin Swig, owner of the Fairmont Hotel. As a couple, the Swigs donated and raised numerous funds for building the new San Francisco Public Library. Melvin Swig died in 1993.[2]

Mailliard's marriage, at age 63, to former Secretary of State George Shultz, a widower, at Grace Cathedral in 1997, was considered San Francisco's "social event of the year".[2] He gave her a diamond, sapphire and ruby engagement ring.[13] The cost of the reception at the Sheraton Palace Hotel was over $4,000,000 and featured entertainment from singer Billy Joel. Guests included Nancy Reagan, California governor Pete Wilson, and U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi.[13]

The couple continued to be actively involved in San Francisco social events, such as hosting receptions at their Russian Hill penthouse on top of The Summit for a group of U.S. and foreign diplomats in 2015.[14]

Mailliard Shultz died from cancer at her home in Stanford, California, on December 3, 2021, at the age of 88.[15][16] Her husband, George, had died 10 months earlier at the age of 100.[17][18] She was remembered by the San Francisco Examiner as someone who, "reigned as San Francisco’s chief of protocol for more than half a century."[19]

Honors

In 2007, she was named Honorary Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) by Queen Elizabeth II.[20]

References

  1. ^ a b "Mayor Lee Appoints Charlotte Mailliard Shultz as Chief of Protocol". City and County of San Francisco. February 11, 2011. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d "George P. Shultz, Charlotte Swig". The New York Times. August 17, 1997. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  3. ^ Service, Wire (June 16, 2022) [December 3, 2021]. "Charlotte Mailliard Shultz, San Francisco's longest serving chief of protocol, has died". San Francisco Examiner. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  4. ^ Archambeau, Kathleen (2006). Climbing the Corporate Ladder in High Heels. Career Press. p. 70. ISBN 1-56414-876-9.
  5. ^ "Charlotte Mailliard Shultz. United States Public Records". FamilySearch. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  6. ^ Bigelow, Catherine (December 3, 2021). "Charlotte Mailliard Shultz, San Francisco's longest serving chief of protocol, has died". The San Francisco Examiner. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  7. ^ Zinko, Carolyne (December 3, 2021). "Charlotte Shultz, who received a queen, a pope and countless world leaders to S.F. as its 'chief of protocol,' dies at 88". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  8. ^ "Nominating Committee 6". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  9. ^ Brown, Willie L. (2008). Basic Brown: my life and our times. Simon and Schuster. p. 253. ISBN 978-0-7432-9081-4.
  10. ^ "Woman of Substance: Charlotte Mailliard Shultz". Haute Living. January 8, 2016. Archived from the original on July 9, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  11. ^ Zinko, Carolyne (December 15, 2003). "Surprise fete for protocol chief". Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  12. ^ "Governor Schwarzenegger appoints Charlotte Shultz as chief of protocol for the State of California" (Press release). gov.ca.gov. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  13. ^ a b Shultz and socialite wed in San Francisco Archived September 24, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, deseretnews.com; accessed August 26, 2015. (caption only)
  14. ^ "Ambassadors' farewell to S.F. party at the Shultzes". San Francisco Chronicle. April 6, 2015. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2015. Ambassadors and State Department officials ... finished their stay Wednesday with a grand evening on the town. This started with cocktails at the Green Street penthouse of Charlotte and George Shultz ...
  15. ^ "Charlotte Mailliard Shultz, Widow Of George Shultz, Dies At 88; 'We Have Lost Our Grande Dame'". KPIX-TV / CBS5. December 3, 2021. Archived from the original on December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  16. ^ "Governor Newsom Statement on the Passing of Charlotte Shultz". California Governor. December 3, 2021. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021. For over 50 years, Charlotte lent her invaluable guidance and leadership, serving as Chief of Protocol for three California Governors and 10 mayors of San Francisco. Charlotte was the quintessential San Franciscan – defined by her eye for the fantastic and the flourish with which she welcomed visiting dignitaries, foreign consuls and San Franciscans from all walks of life. She helped make the City of San Francisco the vibrant, international city it is today. Charlotte's commitment to California's civic betterment led to millions of dollars for libraries, parks and arts institutions. It is hard to imagine California without Charlotte Shultz. We will miss her terribly.
  17. ^ "Statement of President Joe Biden on the Passing of Former Secretary George Shultz". The White House. February 8, 2021. Archived from the original on February 14, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  18. ^ Schwartz, Matthew S. (February 7, 2021). "George P. Shultz, Giant Of 20th Century American Politics, Dies At 100". NPR. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  19. ^ Service, Wire (December 3, 2021) [December 3, 2021]. "Charlotte Mailliard Shultz, San Francisco's longest serving chief of protocol, has died". The San Francisco Examiner. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  20. ^ Caroline Bigelow.SWELLS Archived September 24, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, May 13, 2007.