San Bernardino
County
Biographies
ERNEST
T. SHAY
On the roster of public officials in San
Bernardino county appears the name of Ernest T. Shay,
the capable county sheriff, who has to his credit a long and unsullied record
as a peace officer. He was born in San Bernardino, California, April 5, 1890,
his father being John J. Shay, a native of El Monte, this state, and a pioneer
cattleman, now deceased. The mother of Ernest T. Shay is Mrs. Imogene (Atwood)
Shay, representative of a prominent pioneer family. She still survives, as do
her three sons, Henry J., Lester and Ernest T.
The grade and high schools of his
native city afforded Ernest T. Shay the educational advantages which he enjoyed
in his youth. He early became identified with ranching interests and in 1918
was made deputy sheriff under his uncle, Walter A. Shay, thus serving for
thirteen years. On the 10th of August, 1931, he became county
sheriff, in which important position he has served most acceptably to the
present time, proving a worthy successor of his honored uncle, whose record of
thirty years as peace officer won him more than local fame. A review of the
career of Walter A. Shay may be found in another part of this work in
connection with the sketch of his son, Emmett L. Shay.
Ernest T. Shay saw active service in
the World war as line sergeant of Company L, Three Hundred and Sixty-first
Infantry, with which he was sent overseas, participating in many battles on the
St.Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and various other fronts. He
was honorably discharged December 22, 1919, and he is a member of the American
Legion.
In October, 1917, Mr. Shay was
united in marriage to Miss Estelle Reno, of Detroit, Michigan, daughter of Ezra
and Eliza Reno.
Transcribed By:
Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: California
of the South Vol. II,
by John Steven McGroarty, Page 479,
Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles,
Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 Cecelia
M. Setty.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S SAN
BERNARDINO BIOGRAPHIES