baby Paul held by his father Owen in Kansas City in 1927. This is the first photograph of Paul.
Paul in 2nd grade
“In my day the average boy was a walking arsenal, armed with a pea-shooter, sling shot, and other tools of aggression. My favorite weapon for everyday combat was the rubber gun, which was fashioned out of wood and shot stout rubber bands made from an old inner tube. It could inflict a memorable sting on its victim but was not otherwise dangerous.”
7/5/90
Paul (left) was a drill sergeant in the Marines
“There also were a few who always managed to be in forefront of the action. The most conspicuous of these was Larry Treff, a skinny Jewish kid from the Bronx in New York, who four days after his 20th birthday was made a platoon sergeant and given charge of 40 men. “ 6/3/94 (referring to the book Paul compiled, G Company’s War )
Paul & Joan’s wedding 1955
“I consider my greatest good fortune in life that I married into the Dorsey family: I acquired at once a legendary mother-in-law, an esteemed father-in-law, and an ideal wife for these 41 years.”
2/6/97
in the tub with Scott and Megan
1958, three kids later:
Scott, Megan, & baby Ross
“For instance, Real Fathers don’t mind changing diapers, especially if it’s out in the front yard where they can hose the kid down afterwards. Real Fathers don’t mind giving the kids a bath, either, though their preference might be running them through a car wash. Real Fathers don’t want an expensive present for Father’s Day, but they sure would like to know they are appreciated. For you see, a Real Father really does care.” 6/18/87
family portrait 1962
camping in Wisconsin 1964
Paul began his career as a Soviet history professor, Boulder, Colorado 1965
the family moved to Bellingham in 1967
“I’ve long believed that our society would be in better shape if all the children and grandchildren of today had an old home place to return to. … This is the first and only house I’ve ever owned; I bought it when I was 40. Decades later, this red house is still home to our three grown children and a fixed point of reference for our grandchildren.” 4/4/91
family portrait 1968
Paul enjoyed working in his shop
“So who will emerge to provide the leadership this county so badly needs? I don't know, and for the first time in my life I am pessimistic about the American future. About the only comfort we can take is in the observations that "the good Lord looks after fools, drunkards, and the United States of America." 4/2/92
with Sen. Henry Jackson 1970
“Who would be so fair and honest in his judgments, so respected by the American people, to qualify for the position of "commissioner of politics"? The only possible candidate is, of course, Forest Gump, who understands that politics is like a box of chocolates--the choices you make do not always turn out to be what you expected.” 4/6/95
Paul looking at a painting of
Lenin looking at a painting
(Moscow, 1982)
He was extremely proud when his youngest son Ross entered the Air Force Academy 1976
dancing to Dixieland jazz
Paul was a voracious reader. Besides stacks of books and numerous magazines, he read 3 newspapers every morning.
at Megan’s wedding 1978
with Rev. Vince Crane 1979
pulling Austin, his first grandchild, on a sled 1983
kissing Rachel 1995
“Rachel Roley seems destined to be president someday – whether by popular election or by armed coup remains to be seen. Either is conceivable.” 6/1/95
with granddaughter Ruby 1993
“I have started drawing Social Security. While priding ourselves on our self-reliance and denouncing the welfare state, we Golden Oldies are the original Gimme Gang, particularly when it comes to that welfare system we call Social Security. Seldom do we consider that in about 3 or 4 years on average we will get back everything we and our employers paid into the system. After that we will be saying, in effect, "Just charge it to the kids." 9/5/92
Is he sleeping or reading to Ben?
“We senior citizens have to face the awful truth that we are over the hill intellectually as well as physically. You become like an aging pitcher who has lost his fast ball and has to rely on guile and experience to fake his way through. Still, that will fool the free-swinging kids every time.” 6/6/91
teaching Austin how to tie a tie 1998
with Ross’s family in Victoria 2005
at his 70th birthday party 1997
“I recently ran into the observation that since roughly World War I, there has been a tendency for people to be judged on personality rather than character. If this true, it explains much of what has happened to American society in the past 30 years.” 7/6/95
all men: Roleys and Davidsons
with Scott’s girls
“I have come up with a universal business salutation, a dignified term that is deceptively simple but brilliant in conception: ‘Dear Simms.’ This acronym combines into one word exactly what one is trying to convey: ‘Dear Sir, Madame or Miss.’ Will future social historians recognize the universal salutation for what it is, a giant step toward peace on earth, and reward its modest inventor (me) with the immortality of remembrance?” 11/4/93
with Col. Ross Roley
“I think the Yankee Doodle spirit is still alive and well across the broad face of the republic wherever work-a-day Americans go about the business of making a life for themselves and their children. And I think it will be beating in the hearts of most of us this Fourth of July.” 7/4/91
at Joan & Paul’s 50th anniversary 2005
“There was nothing special about my father-in-law except his innate decency and his deep attachment to the land. He married the finest woman I have ever known (though her daughter Joan comes close), raised a family, treasured the past and sacrificed for the future, and had hundreds of friends who mourned his passing. If that’s not success, then our priorities are badly distorted.” 9/2/87
“One thing seven decades of living has taught me is that there are no ultimate answers here on Earth, and I'm at the point where I yearn for some answers. I want to know if there is a heaven and if it is as beautiful as a 75-degree summer day here in Bellingham. I want to know how and why the universe was formed, and the full story of the descent of man, and if Shakespeare really wrote the plays attributed to him.” 6/18/99
Scott, Megan, Ross, Paul, Joan, and Duffy 2001
“Perhaps it would be a fitting epitaph to note on my tombstone, ‘He let the neighborhood kids play in his side yard.’ It’s probably the most important social contribution I’ve made in this life.” 9/1/94
looking at the snow out the window the month before he died
This is the last photograph of Paul.
1 comment:
Just happened upon this and am leaving with tears in my eyes.
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