A native of Houston, Texas, Councilman William H. ("Cruz") Shaw III has a passion for helping people in his community. This passion is reflected in his educational, professional, and public service pursuits.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, with a focus on juvenile corrections, from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1999. Councilman Shaw has also earned 33 graduate credit hours towards a Master of Arts in Public Policy from the same institution.
Councilman Shaw served his country as a Yeoman Second Class in the United States Navy Reserves from 2003 until 2011. While in the Reserves, Shaw served in San Antonio and Singapore.
He graduated from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in 2009, and he was admitted to the State Bar of Texas that same year. While in law school, Shaw was a member of the Hispanic Law Student Association and the Black Law Student Association. He also participated in the Criminal Defense Legal Clinic in 2008 and 2009.
Councilman Shaw opened his own law practice in the heart of District 2 in September 2010, the Law Office of William H. Shaw. He handles criminal defense, real estate, probate, and personal injury. Prior to opening his own law practice, Shaw was a law clerk and attorney in the Law Office of Johnny W. Thomas from 2008 until 2010.
In addition to managing his law practice, he also teaches contracts, criminal law, English composition, ethics, and social programs at Brightwood College, where he has taught since 2011.
Councilman Shaw has a passion for speaking to community groups and organizations on a variety of topics such as wills and estate planning, gun violence and police and community relations.
Councilman Shaw is actively involved in the San Antonio legal and political community. He is a member of the Rotary Club of San Antonio, and he served as the Chairman of the San Antonio Zoning Commission as well as the San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside (SAGE) Board. He previously served as Vice President of the San Antonio Black Lawyers Association, and he is also a member of the San Antonio Bar Association.
Councilman Shaw is married to Michelle Shaw and is an active parishioner of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church.