Full Name Charlotte Smith Nationality United States | Name Charlotte Shultz | |
 | ||
Occupation PhilanthropistChief of Protocol for the City and County of San Francisco Spouse George P. Shultz (m. 1997) | ||
Charlotte mailliard shultz
Charlotte Mailliard Shultz, RVO (born Charlotte Smith; September 26, 1933) is an American heiress and socialite. She is the Chief of Protocol for the state of California, and the Chief of Protocol for the City and County of San Francisco. She is married to former United States Secretary of State George P. Shultz.
Contents
In 2007, she was named Honorary Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) by Queen Elizabeth II. 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. A native Texan, Mailliard Shultz has often quipped about San Francisco, "...if I don't pay my dues, they may send me back to Texas!"
Biography
Born Charlotte Smith on September 26, 1933 in Borger, Texas, where her father ran the general store, she went on to graduate from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville in fashion design, marketing and merchandising. She moved to San Francisco, where she 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, Melvin and Charlotte donated and raised numerous funds for building the new San Francisco Public Library. Melvin Swig died in 1993. In 1997, Mailliard married George Shultz.
Mailliard's role as Chief of Protocol for San Francisco has been called the "city's premier party-giver" by the Chronicle. As Chief of Protocol, Mailliard 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. Her role as Chief of Protocol began as a volunteer for then-San Francisco mayor Jack Shelley, spanning over seven mayoral administrations until then-mayor Frank Jordan's term, who chose as his Chief of Protocol, Richard Goldblum. Willie Brown re-appointed Mailliard to the post.
In 2003, in San Francisco a surprise party was held to honor her work on behalf of the city. Baseball legend Willie Mays, mayor Gavin Newsom, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and 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.
In 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger appointed her as Chief of Protocol for the State of California.
Marriage to George Shultz
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". He gave her a diamond, sapphire and ruby engagement ring. Guests included Nancy Reagan, California governor Pete Wilson, and U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi.
The couple has 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 Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair's visit in 2006 or for a group of US and foreign diplomats in 2015.