Doc Shelton

David "Doc" Shelton is one of those once in a lifetime teachers. His honesty is brutal, but accurate. His praise rare and therefore cherished. His expectations are high, yet achievable if you're willing to put in the work. He is unrelenting and wise and talented and funny.

This past week Doc officially retired as an acting teacher at the University of Florida after 30 years and many of us who were changed by this man came back to honor his influence in the theater and in our lives.

For me, Shelton provided an honest and encouraging influence. He was one of those really tough guys to please and, for whatever reason, you wanted to work hard enough to please him. To hear him say "Good job" was like winning an Oscar. Shelton was especially important to me because I was the first in my family to pursue acting so no one knew or understood the craft well enough to help me along, to push me. Shelton became that figure for me.

David "Doc" Shelton and Pete

Over my years at UF we spent hundreds and hundreds of hours at the Winnjammer bar where I learned more about life and theater than any class I ever took at UF. Even though he was my teacher and I was his student, I also felt as if he was my friend, my mentor and my greatest supporter. I was very fortunate to have been cast in two of his plays (Scenes and Revelation at UF and Brighton Beach Memoirs at the Hippodrome). And I was lucky enough to see him put his words into practice in a wonderful performance at UF in Curse of the Starving Class.

One of the enduring elements of a great teacher, of a powerful influence in your life is that their words have resonance, that they carry even more weight as time goes by. I cannot tell you how many times his words, his explanations, his expectations carried me over the past two decades. Now that my daughter is pursuing acting I find myself teaching her with the same words he taught me... and through teaching I have found myself finally understanding what Shelton was trying to teach me 20 years ago. I imagine how much better I would have been back then if I would have grasped the depth of his teachings as I do now. His words have resonated in me and now they resonate in my daughter.

Doc Sharing His Memories

After graduation, I was unsure of how much my friendship with Doc meant to him. After all, every four years he'd get a new bunch of students and I would just be someone in that class of '88. But, during his speech I knew I had at least a small piece in his heart as he quoted something I had said to him almost 20 years earlier. It meant a lot to me.

As was stated during his roast/awards ceremony, Doc Shelton was selfless. He gave his time, his concern, his influence and his friendship with no regard for what he got in return. And he did it for 30 years.

The University of Florida lost a rare jewel when "Doc" decided to retire. I am fortunate and blessed to have called him teacher, mentor and friend. His influence on me and my family will outlive both us.

And that's the sign of someone truly special.