Donald Ross Paul

Don was born on March 20, 1939, in the Free Union community of Beaufort County, North Carolina, to Edgar Ruel Paul and Mamie Cox Paul. The third of four sons and one of five children, he grew up working on tobacco farms alongside his family. The values and work ethic instilled during his rural childhood would shape both his character and his distinguished professional career.

Don earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina State University in 1961. He continued his studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he received his master’s degree and Ph.D. in 1965. While in Wisconsin, he met Sally Cochran. The two were married on March 28, 1964, during Spring Break while Don was completing his doctoral studies and Sally was teaching school.

In 1967, Don and Sally moved to Austin, Texas, where Don accepted a faculty position in the Department of Chemical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. Over the next 54 years, he built an extraordinary academic career. He became the T. Brockett Hudson Professor in 1978 and was named the Melvin H. Gertz Chair in Chemical Engineering in 1985. He served as Chairman of the Chemical Engineering Department for eight years and, in 1998, became the founding director of the Texas Materials Institute. Upon his retirement in 2021, he was honored with the title of Professor Emeritus.

A pioneer in polymer engineering and science, Don was among the most prolific and influential researchers in his field. His groundbreaking discoveries in polymer and membrane science earned him virtually every major honor and award available in those disciplines. Throughout his career, he traveled extensively, sharing his expertise through conferences, collaborations, and consulting engagements around the world.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Don was an avid birder and bird photographer. He delighted in exploring birding destinations wherever his travels took him, especially in Port Aransas and along the Texas Coastal Bend. He developed a passion for cooking and especially enjoyed preparing Sunday evening family dinners with his son, Mark. Music was another lifelong love, and weekends were often accompanied by classical, jazz, blues, and the unmistakable sounds of Willie Nelson.

One of Don’s most cherished family traditions was the annual “Orphans Thanksgiving,” where he would welcome international graduate students and others unable to return home for the holiday. Guests brought dishes representing cultures from around the world, creating lively celebrations filled with friendship, conversation, and community.

In October 2014, at the age of 75, Don suffered a traumatic brain injury after a fall and underwent emergency brain surgery. In characteristic Paul fashion, he refused to surrender to long odds. Through determination and resilience, he went on to live for another twelve years, continuing to teach, conduct research, and enjoy watching his grandchildren grow.

Don was married to Sally Paul for 31 years until her passing in 1995. He later married Barbara Wilson Paul, and they were married from 2002 to 2020.

He is survived by his son, Mark Paul and wife Amy of Austin, Texas; daughter, Ann Karnes of Austin, Texas; granddaughter, Amelia Paul; grandson, Andrew Karnes; and his second wife, Barbara Wilson Paul of Abilene, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sally Paul; his parents, Edgar and Mamie Paul; brothers, Edgar Brinson Paul (Lorene), Robert Paul (Verna), and Reid Paul; and his sister, Ruth Sutton (Clyde).

Don will be remembered as a devoted father and grandfather, a distinguished scholar and teacher, and a generous mentor. He was a man whose intellect, perseverance, curiosity, and kindness touched countless lives. His legacy lives on through his family, students, colleagues, and the many scientific contributions that continue to shape the field he loved.

We look forward to announcing additional details for Don’s Celebration of Life at a later date and will provide more details as they become available, including scholarships that can be donated to in his honor.