Paul received his bachelors degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1985 and earned the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the University of Texas medical school in Houston in 1989. Upon his graduation and internship ,Paul was the first chief resident of the UT-Houston Emergency Medicine residency. He then practiced emergency medicine in Austin,TX for many years, saving countless lives and treating the injuries of hundreds of people. Paul was an avid outdoorsmen and part time farmer.