FREEPORT — Friends and family say that while Bill Shaw’s love for running will certainly be remembered, what people will remember most about him is his big heart.
Shaw died Friday night after an almost two-year- long fight with cancer, said Lisa Shaw, Bill Shaw’s daughter.
An avid runner, Bill Shaw retired as an English professor at Brazosport College in 2004 and was a correspondent for The Facts. He is remembered most by his family as a man with a tough exterior, but full of kindness.
“He was such a strong-willed man,” Lisa Shaw said. “But so sweet and tender.”
Jane Shaw, Bill Shaw’s wife, remembers her husband riding his bike to college every day. Though he had a tough upbringing, he worked hard to gain an education. He received his master’s degree in English at Texas A&M University shortly before beginning his long career at Brazosport College in 1972, she said.
Before he became a college professor, he taught at Brazosport High School and served as a Marine.
Bill Shaw was so proud of his military service, Lisa Shaw said.
Every year he would celebrate the Marine Corps’ birthday.
He also will be remembered for his involvement in the Brazosport Area Road Runners Association.
“He was an avid runner and exercise fanatic,” Lisa Shaw said. Bill Shaw completed 10 full marathons and 26 triathlons, she said.
“Bill was kind of the silent leader,” said Daryl Beatty, director of roadracing for the runners association. He was always doing things to keep people on track, he said.
He remained an avid runner until the cancer became too severe for him to continue running. In February, Bill Shaw even made it out to a run to help organize it, though he had to take frequent breaks, Beatty said.
Bill Shaw also wrote stories about running events for The Facts and maintained a regular column about running,
Facts sports editor
Joel Luna said.
“He did a lot for running,” Luna said. Shaw thoroughly covered all of the local 5-Ks and marathons.
Losing Bill Shaw is a big loss to the running community, Beatty said.
“We’re losing a guy who really cared about running,” Luna said.
As an English professor, Bill Shaw sponsored the college newspaper and was active in college events and programs, Brazosport College President Millicent Valek said.
“He related extremely well with staff and students,” Valek said.
Friends and family are saddened with his passing, but say they know he has moved on to a better place.
“He’s still living, as far as I’m concerned, in many, many hearts,” Jane Shaw said.
Services for Bill Shaw will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the St. Paul Episcopal Church in Freeport.
A celebration of his life will be at 1 p.m. the same day.
Grover Smith
Thank you for the notification of Bill (Mr.) Shaw's passing and please accept my deepest sympathy for Mrs Shaw and the family. Given this is just before our 40th reunion, thoughts of Mr. Shaw and his English class when I was a senior have come to mind several times. To this day, he is still one of my favorite and most influencial teachers that kept me truly interested in studying, learning and enjoying it.