Dalton State College, on behalf of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, awarded Honorary Doctor of Business Administration degrees to Robert E. “Bob” Shaw and Dorothy “Dottie” S. Boring Shaw during the college’s spring 2024 commencement exercises on May 14.
“The Shaws’ enduring friendship to Dalton State College and our students across six decades have enriched the institution beyond measure,” Dalton State President John Fuchko said. “Their gifts have supported scholarships, facilities, engineering technology equipment and more, ensuring that Dalton State is able to offer educational experiences and opportunities that equip our students with the knowledge and skills to be successful.”
Mr. Shaw has been a key Dalton State supporter since the college opened in 1967.
“Anytime I see someone with a gown and cap on, you’ve earned it, and I’m proud of you,” Mr. Shaw said to the group of soon-to-be graduates after receiving his honorary doctorate.
He was co-founder and chief executive officer of Shaw Industries Inc. for 48 years and retired in 2006. A few years later, he established Engineered Floors LLC. Today, Engineered Floors operates more than 10 major facilities and employs nearly 5,000 associates.
Shaw Industries made its first gift to the college in 1972. The company was an early and prominent supporter of the college’s first bachelor’s degrees in the late 1990s, and it has given generously over several decades for a wide array of projects across campus.
“We went from being the bed spread center of the world to the rug center of the world. Today, we’re the carpet center of the world, and we’re making one more step forward with the floor covering center of the world. We do this with pride, and we do this with a lot of admiration for the people here in Dalton,” Mr. Shaw said. “We have our college, we have our churches, and we have our schools; without these we would have just one more town with upwards of 55,000 people.”
Mrs. Shaw taught accounting at Dalton Junior College from 1970 to 1981. Her commitment to higher education was manifested in her own career, as well as her support for Dalton Junior College’s transition from a two-year institution to a four-year college during the 1990s and her service to the Dalton State Foundation.
“I have loved watching the college evolve from Dalton Junior College to this dynamic and still growing Dalton State College,” Mrs. Shaw said.
She and her late husband, Kenneth E. Boring, endowed a scholarship in 2000 to support Dalton State’s growth and encourage students seeking careers in the health professions. She has continued to support that endowed scholarship fund, and, in 2020, she helped endow and equip the college’s new engineering technology lab.
“I have chosen to remain connected here over the years as a donor, a participant of college campus events and a community supporter of one of the most important assets in Northwest Georgia,” Mrs. Shaw said. “We are all part of the Dalton State College family. I am proud of this recognition by a place that has been and continues to be such a big part of my life.”
