Fireworks were a family affair

Shaw shares talent with city

Jeff Shaw comes from a line of quarry blasters.

His father John and his father's father Ted were both quarry blasters and passed the skills down to Jeff when he was still young.

Along with the high explosive experience he received in the quarry he also learned how to set off another kind of explosive, fireworks.

"Dad taught me how to hand fire fireworks," Shaw said. "It was a hobby of dad and grandpa."

He said he grew up sitting at the Aurora Country Club experiencing the fireworks display created by his father.

"He'd have sack races and other events followed by the fireworks display," said Shaw. "I can remember those days as some of my best memories."

Memories is something he hopes he is passing on to the families of Morris as he works on the fourth of July fireworks display that he coordinates each year at the Grundy County Fairgrounds.

As event coordinator Shaw said he has surrounded himself with quality professionals, volunteers and sponsors.

Shaw started helping with the Morris fireworks in 2000 after watching a show from the airport and thinking Morris could do something better.

"I'd been to a Fourth of July fireworks show in LaSalle and saw what they did and I thought Morris should have the same experience," he said.

He said there is much more to a quality show than just firing off the fireworks.

After doing what he calls grunt work the first year he stepped up and asked Mayor Kopczick if he could play a bigger role in the show.

"I called several companies and had them bid apples to apples," he said. "I wanted them all electronically fired and the goal was eventually to have the computer fire them to music."

He took his dealer fees and put them back into the show as well as bringing his equipment, support and crew.

Over the years he said he has changed crews but kept with the same company primarily due to safety issues.

Shaw said safety is his first concern with the show.

"My biggest fear with fireworks is a mass detonation," he said.

He said he's seen a mass detonation once where the racks blew and his goal is to never have that happen in Morris.

Shaw has been the member of several pyrotechnic groups and has been to seminars, classes and private fireworks shows with fireworks created by the members.

"I remember watching a show of C class fireworks like you can buy in Indiana," he said. "They spent under $500 and it was an impressive show."

He said one seminar was held by a Broadway choreographer who discussed choreography and how it relates to the fireworks set to music.

For the first four to five years he was with Morris he said he picked the music edited faded in and out but over time he has let the company they use do that work since they have more experience.

"The crowd really gets into the visual aspect, I"m not sure they notice the music sometimes," he said.

He said he has always enjoyed laying back on a blanket and watching them go, and still enjoys spectating.

"I really enjoy creating the memories," he said. "I have people come up and share their appreciation and I've seen grown men in tears they were so moved. That is why I do it."