DR. FREDRICK ALEXANDER SHAW Jr.

Dr. Fredrick Alexander Shaw Jr. 79, of Memphis TN, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home on March 22, 2011. Fred was born February 25, 1932 in Chattanooga TN. His father was a jeweler in Red Bank TN. for many years and his mother was a school teacher. He was raised on Ely Rd. Hixson TN with his sister, Sara Anne. He is preceded by his parents and sister, Fredrick A. Shaw Sr., Sara Anne, and Sara McKee Shaw respectively. He started his career in the USAF at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX. After a three year prosthodontic residency program in Prosthodontics from 1957-60, which included a year long didactic training in prosthodontics at USC in Los Angeles, he and his family returned to LAFB in San Antonio Tx. In a relatively short period of time he became the Chairman of the Department of Prosthodontics and Prosthodontic residency program at LAFB. While at Wilford Hall Medical Center he was the Consultant to the Surgeon General for the USAF. He maintained that position for many years until a four year tour to Ramstein Germany with his family. During his extensive career in the Air Force he rose to the rank of full Colonel. He was awarded Legion of Merit by order of the President of the United States for meritorious service in the field of prosthodontics. He was recognized by the National Aeronautical and Space Administrations manned flight readiness missions. In fact, it has been said that Dr. Shaw is the man responsible for the first bridge to the moon. During his extensive career he worked on many of the U.S. astronauts. Due to test pilot Chuck Yeager’s extensive dental needs Dr. Shaw and the aeronautical pioneer became friends. He also came to know and become friends with Astronauts John Glenn, Richard (Dick) Gordon and Eugene Cernan. He had the privilege of treating Lyndon Baines Johnson during his presidency. While in Germany he treated many U.S. dignitaries, U.S. generals, The Prince of Pakistan, Cardinal Mincinti and others. Returning to Lackland Air Force Base in 1973, he became once again the Chairman of the Department of Prosthodontics and the Prosthodontic residency program director until his retirement from the USAF in 1979. Over the years he also taught innumerable courses to dentist’s world wide on occlusion, Dental morphology and preparation design of natural dentition. His legacy in the Air Force was one of valuable and memorable experience for many Prosthodontic residents from 1958-1979. He helped developed dental waxing instruments (Hu-Freidy dental instruments Co. ) and dental articulators (Hanau Arsticulators) during his career. After retiring from the USAF in 1979 he began his second career as the Chairman of the Prosthodontic undergraduate program at The University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center Dental School at Memphis, TN. for the next 17 years until his retirement from UT in 1994. Dr. Fredrick Alexander Shaw Jr. flew higher and farther than most dentists ever imagined professionally. He was humble, true to his profession, an incomparable educator and teacher who never sold out on any level. He will be dearly missed by his family and the many lives he contributed to personally and professionally. He is survived by his extraordinary wife, Billie Hurst Shaw of 55 years and five offspring, Fredrick Alexander Shaw III DDS, Austin, TX. Suzanne Shaw Brown, Memphis TN. Stephen C. Shaw CDT Austin, TX. Donna Shaw Hicks, Memphis TN. and Jennifer Shaw Torregrossa Chattanooga TN. 19 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at Chattanooga Memorial Park , 501 Memorial Park, Red Bank, TN. 37415 on Saturday April 2, 2011 at 2 p.m. Family Funeral Care 4925 Summer Avenue Memphis, TN 38122 901-761-8000 www.familyfuneralmemphis.com