Mark William Shaw

Mark William Shaw
Born Mark William Shaw
March 10, 1945
Auburn, Indiana, United States
Occupation Author
Nationality American
Alma mater Purdue University, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, and
San Francisco Theological Seminary
Period 1993-present
Genre non fiction, mostly biographies
Website
www.markshawbooks.com

Mark William Shaw (born March 10, 1945), an attorney in California, is a former network television personality and legal analyst. He is also the author of more than 20 books.

Early/later life

Shaw, the second youngest of four children, was born in Auburn, Indiana to Marvin and Vera Shaw. His brother Jack was president of DirectTV before retiring in 2002.

Shaw's first jobs were washing cars, selling magazines, sacking groceries, and working construction, but his eye was on anything new he could try. This curiosity would lead him to more than thirty occupations including chemicals salesman, criminal defense and entertainment lawyer, newspaper co-founder, television personality, television producer, film producer, television legal analyst, and author. He has lived in several parts of the country including Auburn, Indianapolis; Aspen, Colorado; New York City; Los Angeles; Corona del Mar and San Francisco, California; Nashville, Indiana; Sausalito and San Anselmo, California; East Lansing, Michigan; Superior, Colorado and most recently Burlingame, California. His wife's name is Wen-ying Lu.

In early 2010, Shaw discovered he had a daughter, Marni Morrison, and two granddaughters, Allison and Lucy Fuglestad, who he never knew existed. The journey to finding them is chronicled in Mark's book, Road to a Miracle.(People's Press, Aspen, Colorado)

Education

Shaw graduated from Purdue University in 1968 and the Indiana University School of Law in 1972. He was a student intern for a law firm while completing his coursework.After passing the bar examination and returning from Germany and Italy,he became a public defender in the Indianapolis court system. For the next few years, he also enjoyed a successful private practice focused mainly on high-profile murder cases, one of which he tried with the famed F. Lee Bailey. He was a member of the Indiana Bar and is currently a member of California bar. In 2008, Shaw earned a Master's degree in Theological Studies from the San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California with a specialized interest in spiritual conversion and religious art.

Broadcast/film career

In 1976, Mark Shaw left the practice of law in Indianapolis and moved to Aspen, Colorado. There, along with friends David Danforth and Lee Duncan, he co-founded the Aspen Daily News. During this time, the murder trial of famous singer Andy Williams' wife Claudine Longet became an international sensation. Upon the recommendation of F. Lee Bailey's agent, Mark became the legal analyst for ABC's Good Morning America. He reported daily on the month-long trial and predicted the outcome. After the trial, Ms. Longet permitted Shaw an exclusive interview.

Impressed with his on-air personality, GMA hired Shaw as their "on the road" correspondent during the late 1970s. He traveled around the country filming human interest stories. Among them were flights in an F-4 fighter jet (Shaw threw up on the air!), coverage of the annual "Ugly Dog Contest", and reporting the 200th July 4 celebration at the Declaration of Independence in Washington, D.C. In 1979, when famed producer David Suskind sought a co-host for his new CBS primetime television program, People, to join former Miss America Phyllis George, he chose Shaw. Based in New York City, Mark filmed segments with actor/race driver Paul Newman by riding with him at Watkins Glen International track, enjoyed a scary ride on a California rollercoaster with actress Kristy McNichol, and joined British actor Robert Morley at a famous Manhattan restaurant for a tasty dinner during his filming of the hit comedy, Great Chefs|Great Chefs of Europe. People aired on Monday nights at 8:00 but was short-lived due to poor ratings against Monday Night Football.

After moving to California in 1980, Shaw was hired to be one of the hosts of The World of People syndicated television program based in San Francisco, before appearing as Mr. Science on fifty-two episodes of the Disney Channel program, The Scheme of Things. In 1981, Mark was also a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight and interviewed, among others, pop singer Cyndi Lauper and the Beach Boys. Later he co-hosted Mid-Morning Los Angeles with Meredith MacRae.

In Los Angeles, Shaw met the legendary actor James Stewart through his church and persuaded him to host a 1984 Fox television show Shaw created called A Beverly Hills Christmas with James Stewart. The program featured Mr. Stewart, Lucille Ball, George Burns, Lee Greenwood, Walter Matthau, Burt Reynolds, and Denise Williams, with Mark as producer.

During subsequent years, Shaw was executive producer for the film, Freeze Frame (1992) (1992) starring Shannen Doherty of "Beverly Hills 90210" fame, and co-executive producer of "Diving In," starring Burt Young and Kristy Swanson. The latter was distributed through Paramount Home Video.

In 1992, Shaw was hired by ABC Television, ESPN, and London Channel Four as a legal analyst for the Mike Tyson rape trial. He also wrote a column for USA Today and correctly predicted the outcome.

During the early 2000s, Shaw analyzed the O. J. Simpson murder trial for ESPN and the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case for ESPN and appeared in ESPN specials featuring Larry Bird, Don Larsen, and Jack Nicklaus. He also hosted Afternoons with Mark Shaw, two radio talk shows based in Bloomington and Indianapolis, Indiana.

Publications

Based on his perspective of the Mike Tyson trial, Mark Shaw wrote his first book, Down For the Count (1992). Subsequent books include Bury Me in a Pot Bunker with golf designer Pete Dye; Testament to Courage, a Holocaust chronicle; The Perfect Yankee with Don Larsen; Forever Flying with famed aviator R. A. "Bob" Hoover; Miscarriage of Justice, the Jonathan Pollard Story; Nicklaus, Golf's Greatest Champion; Clydesdales, the World's Most Magical Horse; From Birdies to Bunkers with Alice Dye; Melvin Belli, King of the Courtroom; Larry Legend; Road to a Miracle; Stations Along the Way; and Beneath the Mask of Holiness. In all, more than 20 editions of Mark's book are still in print including one Japanese translation. His latest, The Poison Patriarch: How the Betrayals of Joseph P. Kennedy Caused the Assassination of JFK, will be published fall 2013 by Skyhorse Publishing.

In addition to books, Shaw has published in USA Today, Indiana Lawyer, The National Pastime, and Aspen Daily News as a columnist.

Literary foundation

Mark Shaw founded the Aspen-based Books For Life Foundation, a literary organization that assists the publishing aspirations of prospective authors and poets. He mentored the efforts of more than 1000 writers around the world, and to assist with the process, wrote five books on the practical aspects of writing and publishing, including: Book Report: Publishing Strategies, Writing Tips and 101 Literary Ideas for Aspiring Authors and Poets; Grammar Report; Self-Publishing Report; Poetry Report; and Writer's Report. Bolstering the ideas in the respective books, Mark conducted "How to Become a Published Author or Poet: Idea to Publication" seminars at libraries, universities, and writer's centers in the United States and in Paris. Shaw continues to mentor writers through his markshawbookscom website.

Bob Knight controversy

In 2000, Indiana University Hall of Fame basketball coach Bob Knight was charged with grabbing a student at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana. The student turned out to be Shaw's stepson.[1] After Shaw reported the incident to university officials,[2] charges were filed with the university and a verbal war broke out between those supporting the coach and his behavior, and those ridiculing him and calling for his ouster. The media had a field day with the feud and then the situation took a nasty turn after Knight was fired.[3]

Books

References

  1. ↑ "Bobby Knight in Hot Water Again". ABC News. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  2. ↑ Drape, Joe (September 9, 2000). "COLLEGE BASKETBALL; Knight, Under Fire, Denies Manhandling Student". New York Times. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Knight's accuser threatened". CNN Sports Illustrated. September 10, 2000. Retrieved August 3, 2012.

External links