T. R. Shaw Jr. has had a passion for the written word his entire life. He is a lifelong journalist, author, former U.S. Navy public affairs officer, fourth-generation funeral director and active community leader.
A Michigander graduating from Battle Creek Central High School, Central Michigan University and Wayne State University, T. R. became a licensed Michigan funeral director in 1989.
On active duty from 1982 to 1987, he transferred to the U.S. Navy Reserve and retired in 2005, at the rank of Lieutenant Commander. T. R. also served as a Blue and Gold Officer for the United States Naval Academy for 20 years.
Dedicated to education, T. R. was recently appointed a Trustee at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, Michigan. KCC was recently ranked the #1 Community College in Michigan and #33 in the Nation out of 668 colleges by an educational credential association.
Passionate about music, T. R. is a past board chairman of the Brass Band of Battle Creek, a 31 member all-star band of the world’s top brass and percussionists.
Active in Rotary, T. R. is past-president of the Cereal City Sunrise Rotary Club and Past Public Image Chairman for Rotary District 6360. He recently became a Board Member of Rotary’s Action Group for Diabetes, addressing the local and global epidemic of diabetes and is a staunch diabetes advocate.
He is a trustee emeritus of the Battle Creek Community Foundation, and is an adult volunteer with Boy Scouts of America. An aviator, T. R. serves on the advisory board of the Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field (KBTL).
As a professional, T. R. served on the Board of Michigan Funeral Directors Association representing several funeral homes in Southwest Michigan, and is a member of International Order of the Golden Rule and a Charter Member of the Michigan Embalmers Society.
Other memberships include Sigma Chi Fraternity, AMBUCS, Navy League of the United States, Association of the United States Navy, Reserve Officer’s Association, Commanders Club of Michigan, and the American Legion. He currently chairs the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee.
In addition to being an author, he is CEO of Shaw Communication a public affairs and writing service in Battle Creek with his wife Kathy, a native of Marshall, Michigan.
Watch my interview with Michael McCullough of Battle Creek’s Willard Library “Stories at Sundown” series on local authors and local history.
For information about speaking events, Defy The Immediate, or just to say hello, contact T.R. Shaw by clicking the button below