Ron started umpiring locally in 1972, and nearly four decades later continues to call college and high school games. He has been an alternate umpire for the Triple-A Pacific Coast League and has worked two major league exhibition games.

Ron is a Los Angeles native but moved to Tacoma and graduated from Stadium High School in 1959. He was an all-city player in football, basketball and baseball for the Tigers. After serving in the United States Marine Corps, Shaw returned to the Puget Sound area.

At the high school level, Ron has umpired numerous state tournament games and has been on the field during all of the U.S. versus Japan All-Star games. He was worked the NWAACC tournament five times. The Western Washington Baseball Umpires Association has been led by Ron, as president, for the past 16 years.