DANVILLE – Lafayette Shaw Jr. was never one to back down from a fight.

Whether it was in the boxing ring or a city council meeting, Mr. Shaw wasn't afraid to say what he meant.

Mr. Shaw held down two jobs most of his working life, at General Motors in Tilton, retiring in 1987, and as a custodian with the city of Danville from 1958 to 1992.

"I've known him all my life," said Dwight Lucas, CEO of the East Central Illinois Community Action Agency. "He was friends with my parents first.

"When I came home from the service in 1973, my first job was with the city. I learned quickly that Mr. Shaw had no problems sharing his opinion," Lucas said. "He told me the things to look out for and how to carry myself. Later, he impressed upon me the history and the positive things about Danville and challenged me to stay in the community and to give back.

"One thing for sure is that you knew that he would never say anything behind your back he would say to your face," he added.

Another young man he took under his wing was Public Works Director Doug Ahrens. In his 20s when he hired on as the city's risk manager, Ahrens said he appreciated Mr. Shaw's willingness to share his insight about city government.

"He was always an uplifting person, too," Ahrens said. "He could put a smile on your face, and he always knew what was going on. We all used to say he could read faster upside down than most people could right side up."

Ahrens also recalled that, being born in the 1960s, he had no concept of the civil rights movement, and Mr. Shaw helped him understand what people had gone through in the city and across the nation.

"He gave me a lot that has helped me continue to do my job over the years," Ahrens said.

Former Mayor Bob Jones said, "When he worked at the city, he was more than a custodian, he was a community ambassador and that continued after he retired."

Mr. Shaw served on the city council from 1993 to 1996 during Jones' administration.

"You always knew where you stood," Jones said. "He tried to be the best alderman he could be, and he gave back to the community through his involvement with the Elks and his church. He was a good community leader."

The Rev. Eugene Brandon grew up with Mr. Shaw, and they participated in the Golden Gloves boxing program in the late 1940s.

"We both got a lot out of that program and learned sportsmanship, how to control your anger and we shared each other's lives," Brandon said. "In the ring, he could really hit hard, but he got along with everyone."

Mr. Shaw was on the city council when Scott Eisenhauer was appointed an alderman in 1993.

"One of the first things he taught me on the council was: 'Don't just look at the number, look at the people.' He was passionate, confident, humorous and strong, and I looked up to him because of those characteristics," said Eisenhauer, now the mayor.

"I will greatly miss his visits to my office, his questions about what we were doing and who it was going to help, but most importantly, his infectious smile, joyful laugh, his love for this city and everyone in it and his deep and sincere friendship."

State Rep. Bill Black always looked forward to visits and phone calls from Mr. Shaw.

"Lafayette and I have solved the city, state and world problems a number of times," he said with a laugh. "He was very knowledgeable, and he would call me up and want to talk about an issue and would give me suggestions or refer me to people who had more information on a subject.

"People like Lafayette don't come along very much any more," Black said. "I hate to admit that I would send him notes or cards and say I was going to stop by one of these days. The trouble is, you just get busy, and you don't do it, and unfortunately, you take it for granted there'll be time, and then there isn't.

"For anyone who had him pass through their lives, who knew him, laughed with him, had a conversation, they know how lucky they were," he said.