The world knew him as “Polio Paul”, a man kept alive in an iron lung since 1952, but at his funeral on Wednesday, friends revealed a man they called “a force” whose remarkable life could not be contained by the medical room he had to live in.
Paul Alexander, 78, died a week ago in Dallas, Texas, after living on a negative pressure ventilator for 70 years.
Ever since he was stricken with polio as a child, Alexander had depended on the machine to survive.
At his funeral, Alexander’s brother revealed that he would be buried alongside the ashes of his long-time partner and caretaker 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 on 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 tombstone with both their names awaited them
Paul Alexander has died aged 78 after an extraordinary life in an iron lung
A tombstone was prepared with both their names on it – as well as an engraving of Alexander in his infamous lung machine.
During certain periods of Alexander’s life, he was able to spend short intervals out of the bedroom and eventually learned to breathe on his own for short periods.
At age 21, he became the first person to graduate from a Dallas high school without ever attending classes in person.
He was accepted to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, after numerous difficulties with university administration, and then entered law school at the University of Texas at Austin.
He pursued his dream of becoming a trial lawyer and represented his clients in court in a three-piece trial.
Paul practiced law in North Texas for 30 years, known as a fixture at the Dallas County Courthouse where he was regularly seen in the hallways in a special wheelchair that could keep him upright since he was paralyzed from the waist down. neck to toe.
A friend and former driver, Daniel Spinx, spoke about meeting Alexander after responding to 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 biker gang.
Mourners for Paul Alexander, the man who lived most of his life in an iron lung, cry at his funeral in Dallas
Family and friends pay tribute to man nicknamed iron lung for the machine he lived in
Mourners hold back tears at Wednesday’s funeral. At his funeral, Alexander’s brother revealed that he would be buried alongside the ashes of his long-time partner and caretaker Kathy Mary Gaines.
Flowers laid at Alexander’s funeral in Texas
“He loved the ladies,” Spinx told the 50 mourners gathered Wednesday at an East Dallas funeral home.
“He would stop at the court florist and go to the court clerks and give them all flowers.”
Spinx had known Alexander for 24 years and described him as a proud Texan who enjoyed good steak and country music.
“Paul was my mentor. He always helped me without judging me. He was my best friend,” Spinx said through tears.
“Paul sacrificed everything for everyone. I can’t wait to see Paul running with Jesus,” his friend said.
As relatives passed by the coffin to pay their last respects, the song “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls was played.
A neighbor and friend described Alexa, the voice AI machine, as one of Alexander’s most prized possessions, constantly hearing her ask him to play music for him.
“He was the only one who could broadcast his music without anyone complaining,” the neighbor said of his community.
Another former guard who only wanted to be identified as Mann said Alexander taught him to read and do math after she 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.’
After a brief Greek Orthodox service, friends and family members took turns sharing stories about this accomplished man who was a mentor and advisor to so many.
“He’s not cluttered or tied down now,” another friend said. “This life is over for Paul and his new glorious life has begun in heaven.”
As relatives passed by the coffin to pay their last respects, the song “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls was played.
Alexander was buried immediately afterwards with his love Kathy.
A tombstone bearing both their names awaited them.