Merle B. Shaw was born in North Windham 123 years ago. His parents were George and Sarah Manchester Shaw. He graduated from Windham High School in 1910, the year Windham built its first high school building – today’s town hall.

After high school, Shaw went to the University of Maine at Orono where he earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering. In July 1918, he joined the military during World War I. After he completed his service, he did graduate research in chemistry at Columbia University.

Following his college days and service in World War I, he went to work for the Bureau of Standards in Washington, D.C., where he was instrumental in developing the kind of long-lasting paper on which money is printed.

His wife also worked in the Bureau of Standards and they lived in Washington, D.C., until 1975. For the last few years of his life, he lived with a cousin, Josephine Scholl, in North Gorham. He died in 1977 at the age of 86.

Shaw never forgot his beginnings and the education he received in Maine.

In his will, he left more than $300,000 to the University of Maine Foundation to provide scholarships for Windham students.

“…for needy and worthy high school graduates who reside in or in the area of Windham” was the wording. The scholarships were to be used for those attending the University of Maine at Orono, Portland or Gorham.

He was quite specific in his stipulations of recipients: “I do not require a genius. Race, color or creed should be no bar to the awarding of a scholarship. Trustees should be guided by the character and real need,” and “An all-round person who will appreciate the assistance being given him or her” were included in his instructions.