A lifelong pro-life conservative, Paul has been a Republican political leader since high school. Joining the Louisiana Teen-Age Republicans at age thirteen, he was elected state chair by the time he was sixteen. After being named National Outstanding Teen-Age Republican, Paul attended Rice University where he chaired the Young Republicans. Before graduating from Rice with degrees in history and engineering, Paul’s summer jobs (besides construction and offshore oil field work) included working for a national conservative organization in recruiting and mobilizing young people for conservative Republican political campaigns across the country.

While working full-time in the oil and gas business as an engineer, project manager, then supervisor, Paul put himself through law school, graduating with honors from the University of Houston law school. A licensed engineer and patent lawyer, Paul’s law practice primarily involves oil and gas disputes and transactions. He has been a partner with the law firm of McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore since 2001.

Paul has been an adult Scout leader since the 1990s and Chair of Boy Scout Troop 505 since 2006. Paul was also member, then 2006-07 President, of the Parish Council of the 4,000-family St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church in Houston, where he volunteers as a Lector. He also serves on the Board of Incarnate Word Academy in Houston.

Paul and his wife Kathy have been married over 26 years. Their daughter and son (an Eagle Scout), both Houston natives, are now in college.