Dr. William Henry Shaw (1902-1982) came to Columbus, Georgia in June 1945 to become the Superintendent of Public Schools. He served in that capacity until he retired in 1973. He was born in 1902 in Durham, North Carolina. He attended Duke University, where he earned his B.A. in 1928 and his masters in 1933. He received his doctorate in Education from Auburn University in 1963, as well as completing a year of post-graduate work in school administration from Teachers College at Columbia University.

He was an ardent promoter of Columbus having a college. He and his family attended St. Luke Methodist Church. His wife taught in the public schools until her death in 1967.

Most of this information was taken from A History of Public Education in Muscogee County by Katharine H. Mahan.