Armenian American
Armenian Americans () are citizens or residents of the United States who have total or partial Armenian ancestry. They form the second largest community of the Armenian diaspora after Armenians in Russia. The first major wave of Armenian immig ...
farmer and politician.
Life
Of
Armenian
Armenian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent
** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...
descent, Paul Paul was born in
Bitlis
Bitlis ( or ; ) is a city in southeastern Turkey. It is the seat of Bitlis District and Bitlis Province.Bitlis Vilayet,
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...
in 1894. His parents were Israel and Bertha Paul. After emigrating to the United States with his family, he eventually arrived in
Fresno
Fresno (; ) is a city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County, California, Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley (California), Central Valley region. It covers a ...
,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
in 1904 with his four siblings; Beatrice, Blanch, Arax, and Nora. The Paul family, who were then shoe repairmen, decided to become full-time farmers.
Paul joined the Fresno Municipal Band in 1914 and served as its leader from 1923 to 1948. He was also an amateur wrestler. He worked in the insurance business for a number of years, then became a prominent farmer. From 1960 until his death in 1979, he was a member of the Fresno District Fair Board of Directors.
The family started the Pipco Fruit Company in 1952, which grew to 400 acres by the 1960s. The farming operation eventually expanded by 1600 acres into Fresno and
Madera County
Madera County (), officially the County of Madera, is a county located at the geographic center of the U.S. state of California. It features a varied landscape, encompassing the eastern San Joaquin Valley and the central Sierra Nevada, with Ma ...
.
He had three children; Don Paul went to college at UCLA where he played football, and later played for the Los Angeles Rams football team, from 1948 till 1955. Coached the Rams in the 1960s, and later opened The Rams Horn restaurant in Encino, Ca. He broadcast for CBS Television Sports on The NFL Broadcasts. Ronald Paul Sr. and Robert Paul, were involved in the Pipco, Inc., farming operations in Fresno and Madera counties. His grandson Ronnie Paul, Jr., did Radio Big Bands/Adult Standards and Old Time Radio Comedy on KAAT 103.1 FM in Fresno/Oakhurst Ca, under the name " Flying Home with Ronnie Paul". Also doing Television Broadcasting, under the same name "Flying Home with Ronnie Paul", airing Big Band/Adult Standards soundies and Classic Television Broadcasts for Cocola Broadcasting in Fresno, Ca. KSDI-TV 33.2.
Legacy
The Fresno Fairgrounds has named the Paul Paul Theater after him.
In 1976, the International Institute named him the foreign-born citizen of the year.