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ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 14
BY REPRESENTATIVE WALTERS
A RESOLUTION
To express the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of the Reverend
Dr. William J. Shaw.
WHEREAS, it is with immense sadness and profound regret that the House of
Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana has learned of the passing, on March 7,
2026, of the Reverend Dr. William J. Shaw; and
WHEREAS, the Reverend Dr. William J. Shaw was born in Marshall, Texas, and
was the youngest of six children; he was baptized at the age of seven and accepted the call
to ministry at an early age; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Shaw delivered his trial sermon at the age of eleven and was
ordained at the age of seventeen while already serving a small Texas congregation; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Shaw graduated summa cum laude from Bishop College at
nineteen years old and earned degrees from Union Theological Seminary and Colgate
Rochester Divinity School; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Shaw became the pastor of White Rock Baptist Church in
West Philadelphia in 1956; he guided the one hundred twenty-seven-year-old church for
seven decades, making him one of the region's longest-tenured and most influential
ministers; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Shaw rarely missed a Sunday during his seventy-year tenure
and devoted his ministry to nurturing congregants through preaching, mentorship, and
pastoral care; his "Sheepfold Ministry" empowered lay leaders to comfort families, visit the
sick, and support one another in the community; and
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HR NO. 14 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, Reverend Shaw served two terms as president of the National Baptist
Convention USA, Inc.; he was recognized for his leadership at the highest levels of
American government, and President Barack Obama appointed him to the President's
Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the United States
Commission on International Religious Freedom; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Shaw was an incredibly civic-minded individual who made
significant contributions to the Philadelphia community; he served as executive director of
the Opportunities Industrialization Center and served on the boards of Junior Achievement
of the Delaware Valley and Penn Medicine, where he chaired the trustee board of the
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. William J. Shaw is survived by his son, Timothy; two
granddaughters; and several great-grandchildren; he will be deeply missed, but the legacy
of his service shall live on in perpetuity in the hearts and minds of those he served.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express heartfelt condolences on the death of the
Reverend Dr. William J. Shaw and does hereby extend sincere wishes that his family,
friends, congregation, and loved ones find comfort in their shared memories of his beautiful
life.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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