Throughout his career, Paul took great pride in teaching and helping others.

"He was a gifted sales and marketing professional and an excellent trainer," says Hudson. "He was a tremendous coach and motivator."

Al Harrison, Paul’s friend for over 25 years and Pro-Cut rep for New York, recalls that Paul was also the consummate salesman, but was more concerned for the good of his customers than he was for furthering his career.

"He could sell refrigerators to Eskimos, but that’s not what he would do," Harrison says. "He would not sell things to people that they didn’t need... People had a lot of respect for him because he had a lot of respect for them."

Industry recognizes Schubert’s support

During his 40-year career in sales, Paul received numerous honors and awards, including branch and regional manager of the year awards on five separate occasions. He was selected to present the "State of the Industry" address at the Speciality Tool and Fastener Distributor Association’s (STAFDA) national convention in 1983 and he served a three-year term on STAFDA’s Manufacturer Liaison Board, including one year as chairman. Paul received the National Special Service Award, the American Rental Association’s (ARA) highest honor, in 1989, and he served on the manufacturer liaison committees of both the ARA and the California Rental Association.

Paul was nominated and listed in the U.S. Registry of Who’s Who in Leading American Executives, 1992 and in 1994 was the first manufacturer to be elected to the board of directors of the ARA, serving as spokesman for the 987 corporations that manufacture products sold to the American rental industry.

In addition, Paul has written more than a dozen feature editorials for national trade magazines serving the construction industry and has produced two video training cassettes for ARA and STAFDA members.

"God, country and family"

Outside of his professional career, Paul kept himself busy with volunteer work. He was very involved with the Boys Scouts of America, having served as drug chairman. In this capacity, he traveled the Dallas area speaking to Boy Scout troops and presenting the "Drugs a Deadly Game" program. He also volunteered with the Paralyzed Veterans of America Association in Dallas and Fort Worth, contributed to Habitat for Humanity and worked weekly with the Visual Blind Society. He served as youth coach, counselor and advisor to hundreds of boys through the Optimist International Club. He also sponsored two children in Chile for over 10 years.

While in Maryland, Paul founded the Randallstown Optimist Football Program and for nine years led his team to over 150 wins and only six losses. His Randallstown Mustangs won the National Pop Warner Championship in 1971. Overheard at a reunion of over 30 of those players, on Dec. 1, 2000: "Coach set the standard to which we held our own parents," and "Today, everyone accepts nothing but the best because of you."

A veteran of the Korean War who served for two years in the Army at Fort Hood, TX, "Paul believed in serving God, country and family," says his wife, Laurie. "He was very religious, intensely patriotic and an extremely devoted and loyal husband and father."

In his personal life, Paul had a passion for sports and was a lifelong athlete who was voted the most valuable athlete in high school where he was the only four-sport letterman. Unknown to many is that he almost took a path that would have led him in a much different direction than the one he ultimately chose.

>"He had a tryout with the Baltimore Orioles and they offered to sign him to a minor league contract," Laurie recalls. "But Paul turned it down, deciding that it was more important to make a living that could support a family."

In addition to his wife and many friends, Paul leaves behind a daughter, Debra G. Schubert of Baltimore; son Paul L. Schubert of Detroit; grandson Greg V. Schubert of Detroit; a brother, Earl P. Schubert of Annapolis, MD; and many other loving family members.