Former U.S. Representative and NSU Board of Trustee member E. Clay Shaw Jr. passed away on Sept. 10 after a long battle with lung cancer. Shaw served as a member of NSU’s Board of Trustees from January 26, 2009 until his passing at age 74.
Chancellor Ray Ferraro Jr., who knew Shaw for almost 50 years, said, “I found him to be both an excellent lawyer and a dedicated public servant who loved his community, state and country. It’s a great loss for our community and country.”
Shaw was born in Miami and received business and law degrees from Stetson University in 1961 and 1966, respectively. Shaw served as chief prosecutor for the city of Fort Lauderdale from 1968 to 1969 and as an assistant associate municipal judge from 1969 to 1971. In 1980, Shaw was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives where he served as a Republican for the 12th, 15th and 22nd districts of Florida. In 1996, he was named the Florida Congressional Delegation Chairman and served in that role until 2007.
In 2002, the expanded 17th Street Causeway bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway was named the E. Clay Shaw Jr. Bridge.
From 2005 to 2007, he served as chairman of the House Ways and Means committee where he was central to the development and passage of the Dominican Republic Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA).
President George Hanbury, who knew Shaw for over 20 years, remembers him as being a moderate who worked on both sides of the aisle.
“Congressman Shaw was a breath of fresh air. He was able to work with both Republicans and Democrats to get things done,” Hanbury said. “He is the kind of person I wish were in congress today.”
In 2008, Shaw was named a Great Floridian by the Florida Department of State.
As a Board of Trustee member, Shaw was intimately involved in the academic excellence of the university.
“He had not been on the board for very long, but while he was he was very active,” Hanbury said.
Chancellor Ray Ferraro, who knew Shaw from his days as a congressman, said he was always interested helping the advancement of his constituents, which included Broward County.
“On any issue regarding NSU, [Shaw] was always willing to help out,” said Ferraro.
Shaw will be buried at a family gravesite in Cuba, Alabama. A memorial service in Ft. Lauderdale will take place on a later date.
