Paul Werntz Shafer (April 27, 1893 - August 17, 1954) was a politician and judge from the U.S. state of Michigan.
Shafer was born in Elkhart, Indiana and moved with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John M. Shafer, to Three Rivers, Michigan, where he attended public schools. He was a student at Ferris Institute (now Ferris State University), Big Rapids, Michigan, and studied law by correspondence with the Blackstone Institute of Chicago, Illinois. He was a reporter, editor, and publisher of newspapers in Elkhart, Indiana, Battle Creek, Michigan, and Bronson, Michigan. He was a member of the Indiana State Militia in 1916 and 1917. Years later, he served as a municipal judge in Battle Creek from 1929 to 1936. He was also married to Ila Mack.
In the Republican Party primary elections of September 1936 for Michigan's 3rd congressional district, Shafer defeated the incumbent Verner W. Main. Shafer went on to be elected to the 75th United States Congress and to the eight succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1937 until his death.
Shafer was injured in an automobile accident in March 1940 while traveling in Columbiana County, Ohio. He suffered head and spinal injuries and spent several weeks being treated in both Salem and Youngstown before being flown back to Michigan from Akron aboard an army plane.[1]
He died on August 17, 1954 in Washington, D.C., two weeks after being re-nominated in the Republican primary election to the 84th Congress. He was interred in Memorial Park Cemetery, Battle Creek, Michigan.
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Verner Main |
United States Representative for the 3rd Congressional District of Michigan January 3, 1937 – August 17, 1954 |
Succeeded by August E. Johansen |