Paul McCartney brings all his loving to wife's ASU ceremony
Paul McCartney (right) one of the most successful pop musicians of all time, holds up a pitchfork sign with his stepson, Arlen Blakeman (left), and Sparky at the W. P. Carey Alumni Hall of Fame ceremony in November. McCartney's wife, Nancy Shevell McCartney, was among five alumni who were inducted. Photo courtesy of W. Scott Mitchell
Editor’s note: This story is featured in the 2024 year in review.
When Nancy Shevell McCartney was inducted into the W. P. Carey Alumni Hall of Fame at Arizona State University last month, she brought along her spouse — who is pretty famous in his own right.
Paul McCartney — Sir Paul, in the U.K. — attended festivities on the Tempe campus in support of his wife, watching her induction ceremony, mingling with faculty and staff, taking selfies with students and even throwing a pitchfork for the camera.
McCartney, 82, one of the greatest pop songwriters and musicians of all time and a member of the Beatles, is still busy. In the past few years, he’s released three albums and three books and performed several concerts. In October, the U.K. debuted a new 5-pound coin celebrating his career, with King Charles on the flip side.
McCartney married Nancy Shevell in 2011, the year he released the single “My Valentine.” In an episode of his podcast, he revealed that he wrote the song in 2007 just after he and Shevell took their first vacation together.
At that point, Shevell was a prominent business leader in the transportation and real estate industries. She was a member of the board of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority from 2001 to 2011 and was vice president of a family-owned transportation conglomerate.
In her remarks at the W. P. Carey ceremony in November, she remembered being the only woman who graduated in her degree program in 1981.
“… And now the supply chain major within the W. P. Carey School of Business is wide open with career opportunities for women,” she said.
The alumna also gave a shout-out to truck drivers.
"It took a global pandemic for supply chain, logistics, transportation, fulfillment, last mile, etc., to become household words,” she said.
“I am elated about the newfound respect this sector has received, in addition to truck drivers finally being viewed with the high regard they deserve. How cool is it that ASU is the epicenter of education in this field, and was a renegade by recognizing the huge role the movement of people, goods and services plays in our daily lives?”
The McCartneys' love for ASU is obvious. In March, Sir Paul posted a photo to Facebook of their dog wearing an ASU collar. It’s a passion Shevell shares with her family, including her son, Arlen Blakeman, who also came to her hall of fame ceremony.
Photographer Scott Mitchell took photos of the event.
“It was fun to see Paul McCartney at the hall of fame event and awesome that he was there to support his wife,” he said.
Did Sir Paul need any coaching?
“He knew how to do the pitchfork on his own because his son is a huge Sun Devils fan,” Mitchell said.
More Beatles connections
• Fifty years ago, ASU Professor Donald Johanson discovered the female skeleton of a human ancestor in Ethiopia, estimated to be 3.2 million years old. She was named Lucy because the team was listening to The Beatles’ song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”
• In 2022, ASU alumna Jeanne Blanchet donated a 9-foot, limited-edition John Lennon “Imagine” grand piano — signed by Yoko Ono — to the School of Music, Dance and Theatre.
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