Radio station owner and State Representative Johnny W. Shaw was born on January 5, 1942 in Laconia, Tennessee. He attended the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee, where he received a degree in theology. In the 1960s, Shaw was the spokesman of a local gospel group’s Sunday morning radio program on WBOL-AM in Bolivar, Tennessee, where he was also the first African American staff announcer. He is truly a product of humble beginnings, growing up in Laconia, TN, the youngest of 11, and one that has exhibited ambition and drive beyond comprehension. He started his journey in broadcasting after having served as custodian for a local AM station, WBOL, which he now owns. It was during this time that he recognized his love for radio, and after being afforded an opportunity by the then owner, Bolivar Broadcasting, he acted as one of the DJ’s for many years.
During his time as DJ, Johnny met many challenges, but his adherence to the concept of attitude determining altitude is how he was able to navigate through those challenges. He often recounts a time when he was told by the station manager that his recorded production for a local business couldn’t be played over the air, because the sponsor didn’t want “a black voice” producing his commercials. It was in this instance that he decided he should become owner of a radio station, in which his voice could represent in whatever manner he chose. A few years thereafter, that same manager came to Shaw to inform him that the very station he’d been working for was for sale. Shaw drafted a one-page business plan and went to the bank and was immediately approved for a $60K loan to purchase his first station, WBOL. Because WBOL was only a daytime station, it was impossible to accommodate all of the required inventory. Shaw attempted to extend the station’s hours to a twenty-four-hour format but met opposition by the FCC. However, during this time of research, he and his wife did find that they could build an FM station. An FM station would also be eligible for a twenty-four-hour format, which would allow for the accommodation of all inventory, as well as serve as a second station/business for the Shaw’s in Bolivar, TN. Because of the FCC’s leniency towards Black Females, it was Mrs. Shaw that submitted an application for the FM station, and the Shaw’s were granted favor to start an FM Station. This time, however, the amount needed to fund the project was half a million dollars and getting approved for this amount would not be as simple as before. Shaw was able to get a meeting with the board members of the Merchants & Planters Bank in Bolivar, TN. Shaw put on his only suit at the time and a borrowed shirt and walked into a meeting with the aforementioned board members and was able to convince them that he wasn’t there to just get a loan, but he was there to make them money as well. For if they would buy-in to his idea of starting this FM Station, they would be advancing opportunities for all of the other businesses that they were funding, who would now be advertising on his station. Not only that, but he also pointed out that the focused audience for Black Gospel Music would be the ones buying all the products and services that the bank finances. The conclusion of that meeting became the beginning of 94.7 FM WOJG. Even more ironically, the building where WBOL and WOJG are housed is the same building that once housed the Hardeman County Savings Bank. A bank that refused Shaw a $200 loan stating, “you look like a good guy, but we can’t let you have it.” Shaw has a constant reminder of that incident, as his now office is the same office where he was turned down for that loan. Shaw has received many awards and honors as an owner in broadcasting, as well as being one of the prominent announcers in radio: In 1987, Shaw and his wife, Opal, founded the Shaw Broadcasting Company, LLC, where he served as chief executive officer. That same year, Shaw Broadcasting Company purchased WBOL. In the early 1990’s, Shaw acquired the license permit to construct a 6000 watt FM station in Bolivar, which was then built and began broadcasting in 1992 as WOJG-FM.
In 1997, Shaw was appointed as a co-commissioner of Hardeman County in Tennessee, where he served for one-and-a-half terms. In 2000, he was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing District 80, where he became the first African American to serve in the state legislature in rural west Tennessee since reconstruction. While in public office, he has served as house member of the 102nd through 108th General Assemblies; member of the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee; member of the House State Government Committee and Subcommittee; member of the Joint Pensions and Insurance Committee; and chair of the Tennessee Legislative Black Caucus. Shaw is a lifetime member of the NAACP, and has served as a board member of the National Civil Rights Museum. He also served as board chair of the Western Mental Health Institute, and was a member of the West Tennessee River Basin Authority Board.