Former Georgia Tech legend Billy Shaw, a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Tech Sports Hall of Fame, passed away on Friday at his home in Toccoa, as informed by his family. The cause of death was cited as hyponatremia. Shaw, a guard, was instrumental in helping the Buffalo Bills win consecutive championships in the American Football League during the mid-1960s and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 1999 at the age of 85.
Born on Dec. 15, 1938, in Natchez, Mississippi, Shaw played high school football at Carr Central in Vicksburg. Inspired by a teammate who attended Georgia Tech, he followed suit. At Tech, he was a two-way tackle and earned All-America honors in his senior year. He participated in the 1961 College All-Star Game, an event that altered his career path due to a teammate’s ankle injury, which led to him playing guard instead of his usual defensive role.
Drafted by both the Bills in the AFL and the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL, Shaw soon recognized his professional future as a career guard. Inducted into the Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1979, he made the decision to join Buffalo after a conversation with his college coach, Bobby Dodd. Shaw recalled Dodd’s words about the merging of the leagues, marking a significant moment in football history.
As a rookie, Shaw started all 14 games and maintained this feat for the first six seasons. From 1962 to 1966, he earned first-team All-Pro honors and participated in the AFL All-Star Game. Notable for his pass and run blocking abilities, Shaw was a key player for the Bills, whose runners thrived on his blocking skills.
He was later honored with induction into the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame in 1988, the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 1994, and the Bills’ 50th Anniversary Team. Shaw played in eight AFL All-Star Games and was named to the All-Time AFL Team. According to Pro Football Hall of Fame president Jim Porter, Shaw stood out not only for being the only Hall of Famer to have played his entire career in the AFL but for his exceptional athleticism that significantly contributed to the Buffalo Bills’ success in the 1960s, all while embodying the spirit of a ‘Southern gentleman’ off the field.
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