Roll Call Tribute

Paul Baird Beckman 

August 31, 1935 - February 19, 2024 

Paul Baird Beckman, 88, of Dallas, Texas, was called home to heaven on February 19, 2024. Paul was born on August 31, 1935 in Barberton, Ohio to the late Madeline and Theodore Beckman.

Paul and his three younger brothers, Ted, Tom and Frank, lived in Barberton until their father was relocated to Paris, Texas. Once in Texas, he was introduced to the Aggies and enrolled at Texas A&M University in College Station in 1953. At Texas A&M, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and played football. Coach “Bear” Bryant had just joined the program and Paul played through spring 1954 before being sidelined due to injury…he just missed the famous trip to Junction. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and graduated in 1957.

In 1957, he and Jean Jones of Bryan, Texas were married and moved to Virginia for his U.S. Army officer training. After he served and moved back to Texas, Paul earned his CPA designation and practiced tax accounting with specialization in international taxation until his retirement. Paul was a longtime member of the Army Reserves and retired from service as a colonel.

Paul had a passion for the outdoors, sports, and travel. He and several friends formed the “River Riders” and spent many a weekend in aluminum canoes taming the San Marcos and Guadalupe rivers, among others around the state and the country. He enjoyed the mountains, hiking, camping, fishing, and skiing. Paul had season football tickets and cheered on the Aggies in person for years. Later, he was active in the Senior Olympics where he competed in high, triple, and long jumps, discus, javelin, and sprints at events around the country. Paul’s road trips were epic and he took every opportunity to drive around the country for vacation, competition, family visits, or just to work on genealogy research at local libraries.

Paul was a member of Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas and was active in congregations in Granbury, Texas and Hot Springs Village, Arkansas where he also lived. He was very passionate about Habitat for Humanity and enjoyed the hard work of building and the joy of presenting homes to deserving families. He was heavily involved in Boy Scouts of America where he mentored his son and the boys of Troop 570 in Dallas and introduced them to his love for rivers and canoeing.

Paul was a friend to all, never seemed to meet a stranger, and loved his family deeply.

Those left to honor and cherish his memory include his daughter, Suzanne Beckman of Austin; his son Keith Beckman and wife Shelley of Dallas; two grandchildren: Blake Beckman and Brynnley Beckman; brother Ted Beckman and wife Pat; brother Frank Beckman; his wife Sally Thurman Beckman of Hot Springs, Arkansas married in 2001; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Tom Beckman.