William D. "Bill" Shaw

William "Bill" D. Shaw Bill Shaw who, in the 60s, developed KSFO into "The World's Greatest Radio Station, particularly in San Francisco," died June 14, 2008 at the age of 93. Bill assembled an unusually talented stable of broadcast personalities, including Don Sherwood, Jim Lange, Carter B. Smith, Dan Sorkin and the late Al "Jazzbeau" Collins. He then acquired the radio broadcast rights for the 49ers and Giants when they came to San Francisco in 1957, along with the play-by-play talents of Lon Simmons for both teams. Bill was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Pasadena. After graduating from UCLA he began his lifelong broadcasting career by joining CBS as a trainee. Just prior to World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. After four years as an Army pilot he rejoined CBS. While with CBS Bill managed KNX Radio in Los Angeles and then moved to New York as sales manager of CBS's Radio Network. Gene Autry's Golden West Broadcasters purchased KSFO in San Francisco in 1956 and Bill gratefully accepted their invitation to come back to California to manage the station. He eventually became president of Golden West's Broadcast Division and remained in that position until he retired in 1977. Bill helped found and served as the first president of the San Francisco Radio Broadcasters Association and served on the boards of the National Association of Broadcasters and the Radio Advertising Bureau. He was a member of the SF Golf Club, Meadow Club & Pacific Union Club. He leaves his wife, Jaqueline Parkinson of Sacramento, whom he married in 1943; two sons, Wm. D. Jr. (Skip) and John; and seven grandchildren. At his request, no services will be held. Donations in his memory may be made to his favorite charity, the San Francisco Chronicle's Season of Sharing.