Roy Gordon Shaw, Jr.

Roy Gordon Shaw, Jr., was born to Roy Gordon Shaw, Sr., and Gladys Roper in Houston, Texas on the 11th of November 1936. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School, where he played baseball, a passion that continued as a pitcher at Rice University. Roy attended Rice from 1954 to 1958, earning a double major in accounting and mathematics. It was during his time at Rice that Roy met Judith Helmle, a fellow student. The couple married in 1959 and enjoyed 65 years together.

After graduating from Rice, Roy served as an Army First Lieutenant while beginning his career at IBM. As an engineering manager, he helped lead many projects including IBM computing support for NASA's early space program. In 1967, Roy left IBM to found Shaw Systems Associates, a company that would grow to over 200 employees, reflecting Roy’s entrepreneurial spirit and dedication. Today, Shaw services tens of millions of loans across North America and the globe.

In Roy’s younger days, he was part of the DeMolay International, which established a strong sense of community and leadership. He also played Little League baseball, fostering a lifelong love for the sport and becoming a local little league coach.

Roy’s interest extended beyond his professional life. He enjoyed diving, fishing, boating, was a devoted Astros fan, and an enthusiast of the arts and theater. Roy and Judith enjoyed traveling around the U.S. and overseas to Europe and China. Known for his warm hospitality, Roy often hosted shrimp boils on the pier at the family’s longtime bay house, bringing together relatives, neighbors, and friends for lively and unforgettable gatherings. During his lifetime, Roy was a member of the Scottish Rite Masonic Order and Shrine, the Knights of Momus, a member of Lakewood Yacht Club, Artillery Club in Galveston and Briar Club. Roy was awarded the honor of Admiral of the Texas Navy from Gov. Bill Clements in 1990.

As a philanthropist, Roy and Judith were deeply committed to giving back to the organizations they were passionate about, including the Methodist Urology Department, Saint Thomas’ Episcopal Church and School, and other charitable endeavors through the Helmle Shaw Foundation. Their generosity and dedication will be remembered by all who knew them.

Roy is preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Gladys and his granddaughter, Samantha Shaw Herrscher. Roy is survived by his wife of 65 years, Judith Helmle Shaw; his three children, Roy Gordon Shaw III and his wife Karen, Kirsten Shaw Herrscher and her husband Roger, and Christopher Edward Shaw; and his seven grandchildren, Roy Gordon Shaw IV and his wife Trish, Ryan Russell Herrscher and his wife Jennifer, Bradley Carter Shaw and his wife Erin, Valerie Shaw Herrscher, Christopher Edward Shaw Jr., Jackson Lee Herrscher, and Sheridan Ann Shaw.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o'clock in the afternoon until seven o'clock in the evening on Monday, the 19th of August, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A funeral service is to be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 20th of August, at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, 4900 Jackwood Street in Houston.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers during Tuesday's service are, Roy Gordon Shaw, IV, Bradley Carter Shaw, Ryan Russell Herrscher, Valerie Shaw Herrscher, Jackson Lee Herrscher, Christopher Edward Shaw Jr., Sheridan Ann Shaw.

The interment will follow, via escorted cortege, at Forest Park Lawndale in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests that memorial contributions may be made to The Roy & Judith Shaw Endowment at St. Thomas’ Episcopal School, 4900 Jackwood Street, Houston, TX 77096.

Please visit Roy's online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com where memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.