Charlotte Mailliard Shultz

Charlotte Smith Mailliard Swig Shultz is a leading figure in San Francisco. She is currently the Chief of Protocol and Director of Special Events for the city. In 2007, she was named Honorary Commander of The Royal Victorian Order by Queen Elizabeth II. Mailliard Shultz was also the President of the board of the War Memorial Performing Arts Center and a member of the boards of the San Francisco Symphony, Grace Cathedral, and the San Francisco Ballet.

Biography

Charlotte Mailliard was born Charlotte Smith in Borger, Texas, where her father ran the general store. Mailliard graduated from the University of Arkansas in fashion design, marketing and merchandising. Mailliard moved to San Francisco from Texas, where she met her first husband, John Ward Mailliard III (John Mailliard would die in 1986 of cancer). In 1988, she remarried, to second husband Melvin Swig. Swig died in 1993. In 1997, Mailliard married former Secretary of State George Shultz.

Mailliard's work as Chief of Protocol for San Francisco has been notable. Her role has been called the "city's premiere party-giver" by the San Francisco Chronicle. Indeed, 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 on their visits to the city.

Marriage to George Shultz

Mailliard's marriage to the former Secretary of State at Grace Cathedral in 1997 was considered the Bay Area's "wedding of the year." They were introduced to each other by Senator Dianne Feinstein. Wedding guests included Nancy Reagan, former California governor Pete Wilson, and then-Representative Nancy Pelosi. Today, the power couple continues to dominate San Francisco events, such as when they threw a party for Tony Blair during his visit to San Francisco in 2006.