Birl Earl Shultz (1883–1955) was an American businessman and the father of economist and statesman George P. Shultz. Born on January 1, 1883, Shultz worked in the fabric industry in New York and later transitioned into roles within influential financial circles. In 1918, he became personnel director for the American International Corporation (AIC), a position he held until 1923, which connected him to leading bankers and shaped his professional network. During his time at Columbia University, Shultz developed a close friendship and collaboration with revisionist historian Charles A. Beard, with whom he co-authored a book critiquing the motivations of the U.S. Founding Fathers as plutocratic interests. Shultz married Margaret Lennox Pratt, and their only child, George Pratt Shultz, was born on December 13, 1920, in New York City. The family resided in Englewood, New Jersey, where young George grew up. Shultz's ancestry traces back to German immigrants, with his grandson George's great-grandfather arriving in the United States in the mid-19th century. He passed away on January 1, 1955.