Billy Shaw means as much to college football and the NFL just as he means to the AFL. So, his demise comes as a shock and heartbreak for the football world. His impact on the sport as a 2x AFL champion left imprints on many, including his former classmate who mourns his passing.
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According to a family statement, Billy Shaw passed away on October 4 from hyponatremia at 85, at his home in Toccoa. Well, ‘Hyponatremia’ is a condition where the level of sodium in the blood is critically low in relation to the amount of water in the body. And this eventually became a life-threatening condition for the legend.
Former NFL Pro Bowl RB Eric Dickerson made a tribute to his old classmate in his Instagram story on October 6. With sorrow, he uploaded a picture of the late former Georgia Tech star and penned the words, “Rest in Peace to the legend & my HoF classmate Billy Shaw.”
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Billy Shaw was a two-way standout at Georgia Tech playing both OT and DT from 1957-60. He was later drafted by the Buffalo Bills as a second-round pick in the 1961 AFL Draft. Former Bills OL coach Jerry Smith called him “the driving force of the offensive unit” with two consecutive titles in 1964 and 1965. For better or worse, Shaw retired a year before the NFL and AFL merger happened in 1970.
Shaw’s grand contribution to football later earned him a Pro Football Hall of Fame induction in 1999 as the only player with an entire career in the AFL. His Hall of Fame career started back in 1979 when he was honored by Georgia Tech. He then made it into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1985, and finally, in 1996, he was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. But there is one incident at the Pro Football HoF event that will forever live on in our minds.
RIP to the Southern gentleman: Billy Shaw
Before that, let’s hear what HoF president Jim Porter has to say about the football legend in his statement, “While Billy could be unforgiving to anyone in his way on the football field, he was the classic example of the ‘Southern gentlemen’ off the field to everyone he encountered.” An incident where he executed his gentleman trait was when he realized he snubbed his wife Patsy Shaw during his 1999 HoF induction speech.
Billy Shaw realized he forgot to mention his wife, went back on the stage, got to his knees, and apologized to her! If that’s not a gentleman, what is? Well, before he passed away, Shaw was surrounded by his loving wife and three daughters as he lived a full and happy life. The world will surely miss the presence of this legend who will live in the hearts of loved ones for many years to come. Praying for comfort for Mrs Shaw and their three daughters in this hard time!
Written by
Edited by
M.R. Jenifer