Tom Shaw, Lakeland commissioner for 20 years and tireless city promoter, dies at 97

Sara-Megan Walsh, The Ledger
·4 min read
Tom Shaw talks to browsers during the sale of furnishings at the Shaw House Bed & Breakfast in Lakeland in 2018. Shaw, who served on the City Commission for 20 years and was considered the father of Lakeland's Sister Cities program, died Monday at age 97.
Tom Shaw talks to browsers during the sale of furnishings at the Shaw House Bed & Breakfast in Lakeland in 2018. Shaw, who served on the City Commission for 20 years and was considered the father of Lakeland's Sister Cities program, died Monday at age 97.

LAKELAND — Tom Shaw, a Lakeland commissioner of 20 years and its cultural ambassador, died at his home at age 97 on Monday, a family member said.

Shaw was born in Columbus, Ohio. His family moved into a home on Pennsylvania Avenue in Lakeland briefly in 1925, but their stay lasted just over a year and a half. He wouldn't become a city resident again until 1974, but it became his "adopted home."

His daughter, Kate Shaw, said Lakeland always held a special place in her father's heart.

"He loved it, he loved absolutely everything about the city," she said. "He was always, always promoting Lakeland."

Shaw graduated from Ohio State University in 1949 and was a lifelong Buckeyes fan. His education was interrupted for two years as he entered service with the U.S. Army Air Corps training as a pilot during World War II.

He taught school for a year before going to work selling insurance for Prudential, later managing insurance offices. His career took his family to Jacksonville in 1958; Cincinnati in 1963; Lexington, Kentucky, in 1969; and Lakeland in 1974. The family moved into a house on Edgewater Beach Drive overlooking Lake Parker.

In 1980, the Shaws and their daugther, Martha, launched the family's business, The Flower Cart, on Lakeland Hills Boulevard. Martha left the business in 1983 and Shaw took it over, retiring from his 32-year career working for Prudential in the insurance industry.

Lakeland City Commissioner Tom Shaw throws out the first pitch of spring training at Joker Marchant Stadium in February 2002.
Lakeland City Commissioner Tom Shaw throws out the first pitch of spring training at Joker Marchant Stadium in February 2002.

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Shaw ran for City Commission in 1982 beating incumbent Curtis Walker with 58% of the vote. It began his tenure representing the northwest section of the city. Shortly afterward, he served as mayor in 1985.

"What a great guy he was, what a great city commissioner," said Gene Strickland, who served as city manager alongside him. "Shaw was very fair minded, a very independent thinker."

While on the City Commission, Shaw faced many difficult issues, including the decision of whether to renovate or tear down the Regency — the former New Florida Hotel building purchased by the city then sold to a developer. He initially took a stance against renovating the 1920s era hotel overlooking Lake Mirror. But when came it to the final vote, Shaw decided to vote in favor and made it unanimous.

Shaw was a "father of Lakeland's Sister Cities" program and one of its greatest supporters, according to its current president, Tom Palmer.

"[Shaw] was definitely instrumental in setting the program up with sister cities, wonderful in promoting it and travel," he said. "He was a fantastic gentleman."

Former Lakeland City Commissioner Tom Shaw, center, talks with Craig Romney, left, son of Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, and Republican National Hispanic Assembly chairperson Alci Maldonado, right, during the group's annual Presidential Black Tie Gala Saturday August 18, 2007 in Lakeland.
Former Lakeland City Commissioner Tom Shaw, center, talks with Craig Romney, left, son of Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, and Republican National Hispanic Assembly chairperson Alci Maldonado, right, during the group's annual Presidential Black Tie Gala Saturday August 18, 2007 in Lakeland.

When the program began in 1990, Palmer said the internet and emails weren't so commonly used or widespread. Shaw built the relationships with Lakeland's sister cities through the mail, first with Richmond Hill, Canada; followed by Imbari, Japan in 1995; Balti, Moldova in 1997; Chongming, China in 2007; and Portmore, Jamaica in 2009.

Palmer said Shaw stayed active in the program through 2015 when he took a trip with his granddaughter.

Shaw purchased a roughly 100-year-old home on East Orange Street in downtown Lakeland. He gutted and rebuilt it as Shaw House Bed & Breakfast, which operated for nearly 20 years.

Strickland said he remembered going to visit Shaw, sitting out on the house's front porch discussing issues of the day. The bed and breakfast was sold off in 2018 but retains the Shaw's family name to this day.

Late into his 80s, Shaw could be found playing tennis on Lakeland's courts. Strickland recalled "he was an excellent player." He was also an artist, a gardener and a brick mason.

Tom Shaw, left, talks with Gwen Allen during the sale of furnishings at the Shaw house bed and breakfast in Lakeland on April 14, 2018.
Tom Shaw, left, talks with Gwen Allen during the sale of furnishings at the Shaw house bed and breakfast in Lakeland on April 14, 2018.

A funeral mass for Shaw will be held July 27 at 10:30 a.m. in the St. Joseph’s Parish Hall, 210 W. Lemon St. Donations may be made in his memory to The St. Joseph’s Foundation, 118 W. Lemon Street, Lakeland, or Lakeland Sister Cities International, c/o City Hall, 228 S. Massachusetts.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. 

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Tom Shaw, father of Lakeland's Sister Cities program, dies at 97