Dr. Shirley joined the faculty of the university’s Chemistry Department in 1953, and served as head of the department from 1962 to 1979. He retired from the faculty in 1979. He was a specialist in organic chemistry. Among his monographs are Preparation of Organic Intermediates (1951) and Modern Chemical Technology (1970). He was the author of a textbook, Organic Chemistry (1964), and over 70 articles in professional journals. He served as a consultant to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory from 1963 to 1973. His intellectual contributions to the life of the university have been recognized by placement of a plaque in his honor on a faculty study.