Portion of Liberty Street Designated
"Jim Shaw Boulevard"

Marketing & Communications - April 5, 2007
Contact: Ed McNeal, 727-2317

City officials today designated the intersection of North Liberty and 25th streets as "Jim Shaw Boulevard" in honor of James W. Shaw Sr. Special street signs commemorating the designation were unveiled at a ceremony today. The signs will be in place for a year.

Shaw is the former owner of Shaw Gulf Service on North Liberty and has worked tirelessly to improve the economic status of the Liberty Street corridor and surrounding areas.

Shaw, who will turn 70 on April 11, is a native of Spartanburg, S.C. He came to Winston-Salem in 1955 to work for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. In 1967 he opened his service station, becoming the first African-American in the United States to hold a BF Goodrich franchise.

Shaw was the first African-American to serve on the Winston-Salem Sports Commission and the first African-American to serve as chairman of the Better Business Bureau. He currently serves as chairman of the Liberty Street Community Development Corp.

For more information, call Ed McNeal at 727-2317.

Read the Proclamation