The State - News from July 30, 1985

Gov. George Deukmejian has appointed Diane Shell, 30, a former oil company lobbyist and daughter of former Assembly Republican leader Joe Shell, to a $63,000-a-year job as the top lawyer in the state Health Services Department. Shell, a Republican, fills a newly created position, which does not require Senate confirmation. Since January, 1984, Shell has been chief deputy of the California Department of Conservation where, according to the governor’s office, she managed a staff of 325 people and a $15-million budget. Before that she was an assistant counsel for the chemicals division of Union Oil Co. of California and assistant secretary for energy matters in the state Resources Agency.