Paul made his debut in Topeka, Kansas, being born to Olive and Jerry Austin. Paul is a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He studied law at the University of Oxford in the UK and received his Juris Doctor from Oklahoma City University.
Paul began practicing law at the Israel and Israel firm and later joined Legal Aid in Lawton, Oklahoma. He moved in the early 1990s to a managing director position in Norman’s Legal Aid Services office. After leaving legal aid services, Paul practiced in the private sector as a tireless advocate for children and families. He often donated his time as Guardian ad Litem when the parties could not afford to pay, and was considered one of the best LAGs in the state by many of the judges under which he served. Judges and colleagues have used Paul as a resource for legal and social service solutions to problems facing families in the system. He had extensive knowledge of a wide range of subjects and a great talent for finding solutions that went beyond the legal arena.
Though not a graduate of OU College of Law, Paul volunteered as a contentious and proficiency court judge, passing on his knowledge to future lawyers. He has provided his auctioneering services to the Organization for the Advancement of Women in the Law (OAWL) for their annual fundraiser benefiting the Norman Women’s Resource Center. He was also president of the Cleveland County Bar Association and a peer-elected delegate to the Oklahoma Bar Convention. He has also contributed to his community by serving as a member of the task force that created Norman’s Full Circle Senior Adult Day Center and as Commissioner of the Norman Housing Authority Board.
Paul’s acting career began at Putnam City High School where he starred in ˜The 2000 Year Old Man’. He acted with The Who Dunnit crew for over a decade and appeared on many stages, but two of his favorite venues included the Sooner Theater (where he was a former chairman of the board and directed the Murder fundraiser for many years Mystery) and Carpenter Square. Theater. On or off stage, his comedic and dramatic performances have entertained his family and friends throughout his life.
Paul had a passion for life. He had a great personality, an opinion to share, an infectious laugh and a genuine interest in others.
Paul is survived by his sister Kathy Pendarvis and his nephew Austin Pendarvis, known to all of Paul’s Facebook friends as “The Kid”. Paul is also survived by a very special inner circle of friends and literally countless others from numerous communities.
His final curtain call will be at the Sooner Theater Studio at 2:00pm on Friday February 3, 2023. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to any of Paul’s favorite organizations mentioned above or to one who holds your dear heart. Remember Paul through his message…”Smile when you’re not laughing….. Loving life is easy!”
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