Richard G. Shaw
Encyclopedia
Richard G. Shaw generally known as Rick Shaw, served as Insurance Commissioner for the State of West Virginia
from 1977-1985, under incumbent Governor Jay Rockefeller
. Shaw was the first African American to serve as West Virginia Insurance Commissioner, and one of the first African Americans to head a West Virginia state agency overall. (Dr. Mildred Mitchell-Bateman was likely the first, becoming Director of the West Virginia Department of Mental Health in 1962.)
During his tenure as Insurance Commissioner, Shaw was primarily noted for his ability to speak to the common man, as he enjoyed traveling throughout the state to meet personally with industry workers and hear their concerns. This was especially important during a period in which West Virginia was experiencing one of the worst economic crises in the State’s history.
Born in Clemson, South Carolina
to Lewis H. Shaw Sr., a minister and businessman, and Grace Williams, a homemaker, Richard Shaw graduated from South Carolina State University
during the mid-1960s. He had wanted to attend a local primarily white college but was denied admission due to segregation.
After college, Shaw moved to Washington, D.C.
, where he married Dr. Patricia Friday Shaw in 1966, then a Howard University
graduate student. The Shaws later moved to Wheeling, West Virginia
, where Richard found work with a prominent insurance corporation until his appointment by Governor Rockefeller in 1977. Shaw then moved to Charleston, West Virginia
, the capital.
At the end of Rockefeller’s tenure as Governor, Shaw relocated again to Washington, D.C. with his family, at which time he became an ordained minister. (He should not be confused with a different Reverend Richard G. Shaw, who served as pastor of Georgetown Baptist Church from 1983 to 1990.)
Reverend and Dr. Shaw have three children and three grandchildren.
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
from 1977-1985, under incumbent Governor Jay Rockefeller
Jay Rockefeller
John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller IV is the senior United States Senator from West Virginia. He was first elected to the Senate in 1984, while in office as Governor of West Virginia, a position he held from 1977 to 1985...
. Shaw was the first African American to serve as West Virginia Insurance Commissioner, and one of the first African Americans to head a West Virginia state agency overall. (Dr. Mildred Mitchell-Bateman was likely the first, becoming Director of the West Virginia Department of Mental Health in 1962.)
During his tenure as Insurance Commissioner, Shaw was primarily noted for his ability to speak to the common man, as he enjoyed traveling throughout the state to meet personally with industry workers and hear their concerns. This was especially important during a period in which West Virginia was experiencing one of the worst economic crises in the State’s history.
Born in Clemson, South Carolina
Clemson, South Carolina
Clemson is a college town located in Pickens County in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 11,939 at the 2000 census and center of an urban cluster with a total population of 42,199...
to Lewis H. Shaw Sr., a minister and businessman, and Grace Williams, a homemaker, Richard Shaw graduated from South Carolina State University
South Carolina State University
South Carolina State University is a historically black university located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States. It is the only state funded, historically black land-grant institution in South Carolina and is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.- Colleges, departments,...
during the mid-1960s. He had wanted to attend a local primarily white college but was denied admission due to segregation.
After college, Shaw moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where he married Dr. Patricia Friday Shaw in 1966, then a Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
graduate student. The Shaws later moved to Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, where Richard found work with a prominent insurance corporation until his appointment by Governor Rockefeller in 1977. Shaw then moved to Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
, the capital.
At the end of Rockefeller’s tenure as Governor, Shaw relocated again to Washington, D.C. with his family, at which time he became an ordained minister. (He should not be confused with a different Reverend Richard G. Shaw, who served as pastor of Georgetown Baptist Church from 1983 to 1990.)
Reverend and Dr. Shaw have three children and three grandchildren.