Wayne 'Red' Shaw, 1923-2011: Councilman in Wauseon ran clothing store

6/17/2011

WAUSEON — Wayne Shaw, who served 15 years on Wauseon City Council and owned a downtown clothing store for two decades, died March 23 in Orlando, Fla. He was 87.

Mr. Shaw, who moved in 1985 after selling Shaw’s Clothing to his son, Doug, suffered a collapsed lung and pneumonia, his son said.

The Wauseon native, who preferred to be called “Red,” dropped out of high school when he was 15 to work on the family farm, daughter Vicki Glaze said.

He served as an Army medic in the Pacific Theater during World War II but never talked about his experiences, Doug Shaw said.

He returned to Fulton County after the war, married Geneva Frazier, and began working on his father-in-law’s farm until he could buy his own property. He also was a bricklayer for a construction firm, his son said.

“As a younger fellow, he realized he could not lay brick all his life,” Doug Shaw said.

His wife’s work in a women’s apparel shop sparked his interest in owning a men’s clothing store and the couple bought two men’s clothing stores, later adding women’s clothing, Doug Shaw said. The store had six employees.

It remained a downtown fixture until 2007, when a fire that began in a restaurant destroyed the clothing store and other businesses on the block. His son moved the store to Shoop Avenue.

Mr. Shaw served 15 years on City Council, resigning in 1984, a year before his third term was to expire. “I’ve served 15 years, and that’s long enough,” he said in a 1984 Blade interview.

Mr. Shaw recounted his major accomplishments on council as shepherding the expansion of the water treatment plant, construction of the Shoop Avenue railroad underpass, and the widening of Shoop Avenue, the city’s main thoroughfare.

His service at the time was considered the longest council tenure in the municipality’s history.

Mr. Shaw was community-minded, his son said, and was active in the Rotary and Lions clubs and sponsored golf tournaments under his business’ name at courses in Wauseon, Devils Lake, Mich., and Lake Leann in Lenawee County.

“He was very pro-Wauseon,” Doug Shaw said. “His pride and joy was being on council.”

His interest in golf began at age 40, and after his retirement, he spent much of his time golfing, scoring three holes-in-one.

He served on the board of People’s State Bank in Wauseon and remained on the board when the bank was purchased by Ohio Citizens Bank. Mr. Shaw was a Mason and a Shriner and a member of the VFW in Sebring, Fla.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Geneva; daughter, Vicki Glaze; sons, Doug and Denny; sisters, Dottie Hartsell and Jean LaGall; brother, Max; five grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

Mr. Shaw’s body was cremated.

A celebration of his life is planned for July 17 with the inaugural Red Shaw Golf Scramble at Devils Lake Golf Course at Devils Lake, Mich.

Contact Jim Sielicki at:
jsielicki@theblade.com
or 419-724-6050.