Paul Richard Alexander

Paul Alexander passed in Dallas, Texas on March 11, 2024 at 5:30 in the afternoon. He was born in Dallas on January 30, 1946 to strong, loving parents, Gus Nicholas Alexander and Doris Marie Emmett. He joins them in heaven along with his brother Gus Nick Alexander Jr., Elaine Moore, and his caretaker/partner of 35 years Kathy Mary Gaines. He is survived by one brother Philip Alexander; nephew, Benjamin Alexander; niece, Jennifer Dodson; sister-in-law, Rafaela Alexander; and a few special cousins.

Paul was a legend in many people’s hearts and minds. He is considered that because other than Steven Hawking and Christopher Reeves, he is the most well-known and most-viewed quadriplegic of his time. He wrote an autobiography late in life, “Three Minutes for a Dog”, with a stick in his mouth using a keyboard. It took him six years to get it all down and is published mostly unedited.

He contracted polio when he was five years old, and spent the next two years in an iron lung at Parkland Hospital in Dallas; along with thousands of other girls and boys. His strong-will and the love of his parents allowed them to take him home supposably to die. He spent the next 72 years sleeping in, working in, and basically breathing in the iron lung. The name "Three Minutes for a Dog" was given to the book because a persistent caregiver, who was trying to teach him to gulp air with his throat, told him he could get the bulldog that he wanted if he just lasted three minutes outside the machine.

Eventually, he was able breath on his own long enough to finish grade school at home and get an economics degree from SMU. He then moved to Austin, where with the help of many friends and caregivers (such as his best friend Gary Cox) he completed his studies to obtain a law degree. He then moved back to Dallas where he practiced law for the next 30 years until his body finally started rebelling and he had to spend more time in the old machine.

He has touched so many lives all over the world with his book and social media. He was a member of the Greek Orthodox Church, an ambassador for Rotary International, and the topic of many videos and publications. He loved his friends and family very hard. The thing that stands out the most in most people’s mind’s was his big, natural, beautiful smile which immediately made you love him.

A visitation for Paul will be held Tuesday, March 19, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Grove Hill Funeral Home, 3920 Samuell Blvd, Dallas, TX 75228. A funeral service will occur Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 2:00 PM, 3920 Samuell Blvd, Dallas, TX 75228. A committal service will occur Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 3:15 PM at Grove Hill Memorial Park, 3920 Samuell Blvd, Dallas, TX 75228.