William G. ‘Bill’ Shaw, age 85, passed away quietly at Suttle Care Retirement Home in Pendleton, OR, May 26, 2010. Bill was born in April 2nd, 1925 and attended Pendleton schools. He met trick roper Montie Montana in 1937 and was inspired to practice his roping. Bill was involved with Pendleton RoundUp since 1939. Bill trained his horse, Monte, to be part of Happy Canyon, and they performed from 1939 to 1954. Happy Canyon is the night performance telling the history of the Pendleton area of Oregon. Monte was inducted in to the Pendleton RoundUp Hall of Fame. Bill was a RoundUp Director from 1970 to 1978 and Vice President for two years. He, too, was inducted in to the Pendleton RoundUp Hall of Fame in 2005. He retired from the family wheat farm in 1988. One of his favorite events was accompanying Monk Carden to Rodeo Clown Reunions. His ‘bunkhouse’ on the ranch housed many hunters and friends for many years. He is survived by his wife, Laura Jean Shaw; daughters, Mary Green of Pilot Rock, OR; Elizabeth “Betsy” Recht and husband Miguel of Mexico City, and grandchildren, John Robert and Samantha Green, and Miguel, Mariana and Gina Recht.
A memorial for Bill will be held June 2nd, at 4 PM, and a celebration of his life will be held June 26th at 3 PM, at the bunkhouse. For more information contact Mary Green at 541-443-1222.
