Joseph Claude Shell, Sr. (September 7, 1918 – April 7, 2008) was an American oil producer and lobbyist who represented District 58 (West Los Angeles - the Wilshire area) in the California State Assembly from 1953-1963 and was the Assembly Republican Minority Leader. Shell is best remembered for having unsuccessfully opposed Richard Nixon, in the primary election for Governor of California in June 1962. Shell, however, contended that Nixon actually opposed him, for Shell had been committed to the governor's race for a year before Nixon's own entry.