Rod Shaw

Rodrick L. Shaw passed into eternal life at Vista Care Hospice, Lubbock, on Monday, December 27, 2010 after a lengthy struggle with Parkinson’s disease. Interment with family and friends will be in the City of Lubbock Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 30th. Celebration of Life memorial service will follow in First United Methodist Church at 2:00 o’clock. Rod was born on November 28, 1923 in Milo, Iowa, the seventh of seven children of Reginald Arthur and Beulah Green Shaw. Following the Great Depression, the family moved in 1931 to a farm near Olton, Texas when Rod was eight years old. He attended Olton schools and graduated Salutatorian of Olton High in 1940 and entered Texas Tech with three of his siblings all as freshmen together. His father was recognized at homecoming that year for having the most children in Tech at one time! Rod’s junior year was interrupted by World War II, as he entered the Navy and became a fighter pilot in the Naval Air Corp where he served twenty-seven months. After the war, he returned to Texas Tech and graduated in 1947 with a B A in government with High Honors. Rod entered S M U School of Law in 1947 where he became a member of Barristers, Law Review, Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity, and was a Moot Court team member. He graduated with a Doctor of Jurisprudence and received his law license in 1949. He then returned to Lubbock and practiced civil law for fifteen years. At that point, he began twenty-six years of service as Lubbock County Judge – the longest in the History of Lubbock County in that position. He retired in 1990. Judge Shaw was widely known and recognized in many areas, including public speaking, and as a Master of Ceremonies where his wit and humor were primary. Among the honors he cherished were being recognized as a Distinguished Senior Lawyer by the Lubbock County Bar Assn and a Distinguished Alumni of Texas Tech in 1990. He had also served as President of the West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Assn (covering 127 counties) and President of the South Plains Assn of Governments. Rod was a 50+ year member of the Masons, a longtime member of the South Plains Food Bank, a member of Friends of the Library, Genealogy Society, Lubbock County Historical Association, TTU Alumni Association, and multiple other committees. Rod was a life-long member of the Methodist Church, and a 60 year member of First United Methodist Church of Lubbock, where he had served as Lay Leader and chair of the Administrative Board. He taught Adult Sunday School classes for more than fifty years. Rod married Bobbye R. Bockman in Lamesa, Texas on August 21, 1949. He is survived by his wife, Bobbye of Lubbock; and two sons, Luke Larkin Shaw of Lubbock and Dr. Robin R. Shaw and wife Dr. Mary Jo Shaw of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; grandchildren, Kellen Shaw of Santa Clare, CA, Chris Shaw of Tacoma, WA and Mason Shaw of Stanford, CA.; his sister, Aural Davis of Dimmit; cousin, Enid Givens of Olton; as well as many cherished nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Reginald, James and Norman; and two sisters, Melba and Catharine. The family wishes to express their gratitude to The Phoenix House, and their employees and to Vista Care hospice for their loving care. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Sanders Funeral Home, Wednesday, December 29th. Memorials are suggested to West Texas Parkinson’s Society, 3610-22nd Street, Lubbock, TX 79410; South Plains Food Bank, 4612 Locust Ave., Lubbock, TX 79401; Everliving Trust of First United Methodist Church, 1411 Broadway Ave., Lubbock, TX 79401; or the charity of your choice.