William J. Shaw was a prominent American resident in Manila who founded the Wack Wack Golf & Country Club in 1930 as an exclusive championship course in Mandaluyong City in Metropolitan Manila. The Wack Wack Golf & Country Club which is located along Shaw Boulevard is one of the oldest golf clubs in the Philippines and has consistently been considered as one of the best golf courses in the world. Its East Course is the only one of its kind planted to "Manila Grass". William J. Shaw was born in 20 September 1877 and died on 1 March 1939.
In the American colonial period of the Philippines, as was the norm for country clubs then, such as the Baguio Country Club, American Army-Navy Club and the Polo Club, to bar Filipino members. William Shaw himself, was ostracized from the Manila Golf Club for being married to a Filipina, thus, prompting him to establish the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. Bill Shaw is best remembered for his great love for the game of golf, as a human being who stood up for other people, as a person who demands that all are accorded equal rights and privileges he enjoys in the spirit of fair play.
The William J. Shaw Theatre located in Greenbelt 1 in the Ayala Center in Makati City (transferred from Shangri-la Mall in Mandaluyong City) is named in honor of him. The theatre is the base of Repertory Philippines ("The Rep”), Manila's premiere English-speaking theatre group for over three decades. Plays from musicals, comedies, plays and children’s theater are staged throughout the year except in June and July.
Shaw Boulevard which starts from Kalentong Street in Mandaluyong City to Barangay Bagong Ilog in Pasig City was named in honor of him.