Julius Clarence Shaw

Julius Clarence Shaw, age 85, passed away peacefully on January 16, 2015. He was born in Dalton, Georgia, on December 18, 1929, the oldest of four children to Julius Clarence and Essie Evans Shaw. After graduation from Dalton High School, he enrolled in Georgia Tech in the fall of 1946.

Julius Clarence “Bud” Shaw received his B.S. degree in Textile Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1950. While still in school and after graduation, Mr. Shaw worked in a management training program with American Thread Company. In 1952, he served in the armed forces for a year before joining the I.E. Department of Crown Cotton Mills in Dalton, Georgia, where he started the carpet yarn division. Mr. Shaw joined Marion Manufacturing Company in 1958 as General Manager of Rocky Creek Mills, the carpet yarn division of Marion. In 1959, Rocky Creek Mills and Star Dye Company (a family-owned business) formed Star Finishing Company, and he served as a director. J. P. Stevens Company purchased Rocky Creek Mills in 1964, and Mr. Shaw became General Manager of the automotive division. In 1965, he moved to Cartersville, Georgia, with Dan River Carpets as General Manager. Mr. Shaw founded Sabre Carpets in 1968 and merged the interests of Star Finishing and Sabre/Philadelphia into Shaw Industries, Inc., where he served as Chairman until 1996 when he retired to Chairman Emeritus. From 1968 to the present, Shaw Industries, Inc., has grown to be the world’s largest carpet manufacturing company.

Mr. Shaw was the recipient of Georgia Tech’s “Distinguished Engineering Alumni” Award in 1994 and Georgia Tech Athletic Association’s “Total Person” Award in 1995. He was also awarded membership into Georgia Tech’s “Engineering Hall of Fame” in 1997.

Mr. Shaw is a past board member of the Carpet & Rug Institute (Chairman), Georgia Tech Foundation, Georgia Tech National Advisory Board, Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Emory-Georgia Tech Biomedical Technology Research Center, Kennesaw State College, Rabun-Gap Nacoochee School, Bartow County Bank, First National Bank of Cobb County, Georgia State Chamber of Commerce, Post Properties, Georgia Heart Association, Columbia Theological Seminary Board of Trustees, and Council of Fellows. He also served as an Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Cartersville for many years.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Margaretta Lumpkin Shaw, his sons, Julius Clarence Shaw, Jr. (Wendy) and Robert Lee Shaw (Sheila), his daughters, Lyda Shaw White and Rebecca Shaw Shepherd (Clyde), his grandchildren, Jason Shaw (Regina), Tatum Shaw, Hannah Hart (Daniel), Redding Shaw, Bennett White (Catherine), Davis White (Anna), Mimi Nolen (Shep), Robert Shaw, Sarah Parker (Brannon), Clare Shaw, Clyde Shepherd, and George Shepherd, and eight great-grandchildren. He also is survived by his brother, Robert E. Shaw, and sister, Eleanor Shaw McCamy. He was

preceded in his death by his sister, Irene Shaw Grigg, and his son-in-law, Jere Field White, Jr. He will be missed by his many good friends, business associates and family.

May he rest in peace with a job well done. The visitation will be at 10 o'clock on Tuesday, January 20, in the Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian Church, Cartersville, Georgia, with a memorial service to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First Presbyterian Church, 183 W. Main Street, Cartersville, Georgia 30120, or to the charity of one's choice.