Ray Shaw sits behind his desk at the Highlands District of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Shaw recently retired.

Shaw retires after 35 years of service to Blue Ridge Parkway

When Ray Shaw took a job on the Blue Ridge Parkway in 1973, the Alleghany native didn't realize his desire to try "something different" would lead to a life-long career. After 35 years on the Parkway, Shaw retired Aug. 1.

Years of Service

In October 1973, after attending a semester at Gaston College and working for a short time with his father, the late James Shaw, with construction work, the younger Shaw learned of an opening at the Parkway's sign shop, located in Roanoke, Va.

He explained, "I grew up in this area and was raised within a mile of the Parkway. I was always close to the Parkway. I always loved the Parkway, the way it looked and how it was so well-maintained with picturesque views and vistas."

Of his job at the sign shop, Shaw commented, "At that time, we made signs for parks throughout the National Park Service, any park that wanted a sign." He noted that the shop has since "shrunk down" due to budget cuts, but a very minimal staff maintains signs along the Parkway.

At 20 years of age, Shaw merely saw the job with the sign shop as a temporary opportunity. As the years went by, Shaw began to advance in the maintenance and engineering division.

With a grin, he remarked, "The years passed and the next thing you know, you've got so much time invested in it, (you think) ‘Oh gosh, I'd better make this a career now.' Time flies. A lot of people start in a job at a business, not thinking at the time that this is going to be my career. A lot of people don't figure out what they want to do with their life and they stay in a job and career they really don't like and that's sad. But it's great to have a job that you really love and this has been one of those jobs for me. I don't have any regrets at all."

After working at the sign shop for five years, Shaw was transferred to Rocky Knob, the Fancy Gap area of Virginia. A year later, he was transferred to the Highland District Office (located in Laurel Springs) where he initially worked as maintenance mechanic. As such, Shaw performed electrical work, work on water and sewer system, as well as carpentry and masonry duties for five years. In 1985, he was promoted to a supervisory maintenance foreman position.