Paul Byron Detmore

Paul was born and raised in Houston, Texas, to E.T. “Buddy” and Pauline Detmore. He attended Sul Ross College in Alpine, Texas on a baseball scholarship, where he played left field and was a member of the 1968 college World Series Team. After Sul Ross discontinued their baseball program, Paul continued his education at Sam Houston State College and graduated in 1970 with a BS in Education/ Industrial Engineering.

He began his 38 year Coca-Cola career shortly after graduation working with Coca-Cola Quality Control. While traveling with his job, Paul met Nancy Goodman in Lubbock, where they were married, and began sharing their life together in May 1973. Paul, known as the face of Coca-Cola, a.k.a. “Mr. Coca-Cola” to most partnering businesses and organizations in the greater Houston area, began his career with Houston Coca-Cola in February, 1973, as a Sales Manager in the El Campo market. Upon his retirement in 2008 as Community Relations Business Development Manager for Houston Coca-Cola, management and other colleagues stated that “Paul’s name and presence has long been synonymous with Houston Coca-Cola, and he was one of the most loyal and dedicated people you will ever meet. He was instrumental in ‘inking’ many great relationships over the years – including those with local professional sports teams, non-profits and other business partners”. He represented Coca-Cola with the Houston Astros, Houston Texans, The Shell Houston Open, and many other organizations.

Paul had a true passion for sports and the outdoors his entire life. He was an avid hunter and golfer, coached Little League and Soccer, and could always be found working in the yard, re-finishing antique furniture, or working in the barn (if it was raining). Combining his positive outlook on life with his strong work ethic, he was well respected by all who knew him and a loyal friend whom many admired. As a devout Christian, Paul’s most important and satisfying job in life was being a loving husband, and a committed and caring father. He possessed a sensitive, selfless, and sincere nature who dedicated his life to putting the happiness of others before his own, especially his family. Paul touched the lives of many people with his warm smile, loving heart, and sincere generosity, who led his life by example, letting his actions speak louder than his words. Paul’s life was a great ride in every sense of the word, and his friends and family were privileged to have been his passengers.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife; children, Brad and wife Sarah, of Missouri City; Mackenzie and fiancé Matthew Carpenter, of Missouri City; and brother Jim and wife Cynthia of Katy. Paul also leaves many much loved nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life will be held at 10 a.m., on Friday, November 4, 2011, at Sugar Creek Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Memorial Oaks Cemetery at I-10 & Eldridge. The family will receive friends at Settegast-Kopf funeral home on Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Dr. Paul Schulz Frontotemporal Lobe Dementia-PSP Research, c/o Ms. Yvette Sanders, University of Texas Health Department of Neurology, 6410 Fannin, Suite 1014, Houston, TX 77030. Condolences may be offered at www.settegastkopf.com

Serving as Pallbearers will be Claude Clements, Gene Garner, Nick Nichols, Don Parker, Alberto Valcarcel, and Gary Von Haefan.