 |
|
|
|
|
|
Seneca honors Paul
Gym named for longtime board member, hoops backer
Source:
Butler Eagle
Written by:
Derek Pyda
Published:
January 27, 2010
JACKSON TWP — Bill Paul always will be associated with Seneca Valley basketball.
Now, it's official.
The high school gym was renamed the William F. Paul Gymnasium during halftime of the Raiders boys basketball game against Central Catholic Friday night.
Paul, who served on the Seneca Valley School Board for 42 years before retiring in 2007, died in October at the age of 84.
The board voted in November to rename the gym.
"There can't be anybody who has seen more basketball at Seneca Valley than Bill Paul," said former school board president Dean Berkebile, who worked alongside Paul for 16 years. "He came to see the boys teams, girls teams, varsity and junior varsity — he was here every night there was a game, and I mean every night.
"He would have really resisted this had it been done when he was still here," Berkebile added. "But I think it's very deserving and very appropriate."
Bill Paul's widow, Alice Lee, and their two sons, Craig and David, were present Friday night to unveil a plaque dedicated to Paul inside the gym.
"I'm speechless," said Alice Lee, who was married to Paul for 57 years. "Deep down, I'm very proud he was honored like this."
Supporting athletics was just one of many contributions Bill Paul made to the district.
Before his many years on the Seneca Valley School Board, he served at Zelienople High and aided in the consolidation when that school merged with Evans City High in 1964.
"He didn't do it for personal benefit," said Craig Paul. "He saw himself as a servant to the community and he took pride in seeing the district grow."
Craig and David Paul played basketball and golf at Seneca Valley in the 1970s, but their father began supporting athletic teams at the school long before that.
"Pretty much every (sport) at the school, he was out there for it," said Alice Lee.
Friday night was an emotional one for the Paul family, but they said they are thankful for it.
"This is a great honor," said David Paul. "The amount of time he put into the school district, it was pretty amazing. I think it's fantastic what they've done."
|
|
Back |
|
|
|
|
|
|
