The world knew him as “Polio Paul,” a man kept alive in an iron lung since 1952, but at his funeral Wednesday, friends unveiled a man they called “a force” whose remarkable life could not be curtailed by the medical room where he lived. lived in.
Paul Alexander, 78, died a week ago in Dallas, Texas, after living in a negative pressure ventilator for 70 years.
Struck by polio as a child, Alexander depended on the machine for his survival.
At his funeral, Alexander’s brother revealed he would be buried next to the ashes of his longtime partner and caregiver Kathy Mary Gaines.
Gaines recently died after caring for Alexander for 35 years.
Paul Alexander, 78, died a week ago in Dallas, Texas, after living in a negative pressure ventilator for 70 years. Pictured: Mourners line his grave, where he was buried on Wednesday
Alexander was buried immediately afterwards with his love Kathy. A headstone with both their names awaited them
Paul Alexander died at the age of 78 after an extraordinary life in an iron lung
A gravestone was made with both their names on it, as well as an etching of Alexander in his infamous lung machine.
During some periods of Alexander’s life he was able to spend short intervals outside the room, eventually learning to breathe on his own for short periods of time.
At age 21, he became the first person to graduate from a Dallas high school without ever attending classes in person.
He was admitted to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, after many problems with the university administration, and then went on to study law at the University of Texas, Austin.
He pursued his dreams of becoming a trial attorney and represented clients in court in a three-part lawsuit.
Paul practiced law in North Texas for 30 years, known as a fixture at the Dallas County Courthouse, where he was frequently seen in the hallways in a special wheelchair that could keep him upright as he was paralyzed from the neck down.
Daniel Spinx, a friend and former driver, spoke about his meeting with Alexander after answering a newspaper ad for a lawyer who needed a driver to take them to court.
Among his many clients, Paul represented some Hells Angels, who became so close to him that they made him an honorary member of the motorcycle gang.
Mourners for Paul Alexander, the man who lived most of his life in an iron lung, mourn at his funeral in Dallas
Family and friends pay their respects to the man known as Iron Lung because of the machine he lived in
Mourners hold back tears during the funeral on Wednesday. At his funeral, Alexander’s brother revealed he would be buried next to the ashes of his longtime partner and caregiver Kathy Mary Gaines.
Flowers are laid at Alexander’s funeral in Texas
“He loved the ladies,” Spinx told the 50 mourners gathered at an East Dallas funeral home on Wednesday.
“He stopped by the court flower shop and went up to the clerks and handed them all flowers.”
Spinx knew Alexander for 24 years and described him as a proud Texan who enjoyed good steak and country music.
‘Paul was my mentor. He has always helped me without judging me. He was my best friend,” Spinx said through tears.
“Paul sacrificed everything for every body. I can’t wait to see Paul running around with Jesus,” his friend said.
As loved ones shuffled past the casket to pay their last respects, the song “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls played
A neighbor and friend described Alexa, the voice AI machine, as one of Alexander’s most prized possessions, constantly hearing him ask to play music for him.
“He was the only one who could get away with blasting his music without anyone complaining,” the neighbor explained of their community.
Another former caregiver who asked to be identified only as Mann said Alexander taught him to read and do math after he started working for him.
‘He taught me how to think. He taught me how to be a man,” he said.
“He taught me, ‘If I can do it, you can do it too.’
After a brief Greek Orthodox service, friends and family members took turns sharing stories about the accomplished man who was a mentor and counselor to many.
“He is now unencumbered and untethered,” said another friend. “This life has ended for Paul and his glorious new life has begun in heaven.”
As loved ones shuffled past the casket to pay their last respects, the song “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls played.
Alexander was buried immediately afterwards with his love Kathy.
A headstone with both their names awaited them.