March 28, 2007

Business executive, Purdue adjunct professor to sign books in Indy

Gerald Paul
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Gerald Paul will sign copies of his book, "My Business Life Cycle: How Innovation, Evolution and Determination Made Paul Harris Great," from 5-7 p.m. in the library of the Indianapolis Art Center at the Marilyn K. Glick School of Art, 820 E. 67th St., Indianapolis, located in the Broad Ripple Village cultural district.

Paul also is an adjunct professor in the Department of Consumer Science and Retailing and teaches a senior seminar in retailing to undergraduate majors. He is an entrepreneur, business leader and philanthropist. He founded Paul Harris Stores in 1954, which, at its peak, had 378 stores in 37 states.

"The book has lessons in the history and glory days of retailing," said Richard Feinberg, a colleague of Paul and professor in consumer science and retailing. "The book has important lessons for students interested in managing, leading and building a business."

Paul was native of Germany and came to the United States as a teenager as his family sought the promise of America.

"The story of Gerald Paul's founding and growing a major national retailer is the story of America," Feinberg said. "He came to the United States for freedom and found that with freedom came economic opportunity for him and others."

Paul has served as a member of the board of directors of the National Retail Federation and pioneered the development of international sourcing of fashion merchandise in China. In 1994, he was Indiana Business magazine's chief executive officer of the year.

He serves on the boards of the Eiteljorg Museum of Native American and Western Art, the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Heartland Film Festival held in Indianapolis.

In recognition of his service to the nation, the state of Indiana and Purdue, he received an honorary doctorate from Purdue in 1996.

Writer: Maggie Morris, (765) 494-2432, maggiemorris@purdue.edu

Sources: Gerald Paul, (317) 471-3538

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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