Longtime Clarion Area Educator, Coach And Driving Force With Fellowship Of Christian Athletes Paul Mowry Passes Away
Photos courtesy of the Mowry family – Above Paul and Kay on their 50th Anniversary
Paul Mowry who was long a fixture in the Clarion community as an educator, coach and major thrust in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), both locally and beyond, passed away at his home in the Villages, Florida, on Wednesday, June 28th, at the age of 84, with his wife Kay and sons Bob and Brad at his side.
To fully describe the great influence this man had on the lives he touched could take volumes.
I’ll share some of the events of his life along with a few of my own special remembrances of Paul. I’m sure many readers would have many that could be added, whether you knew him as Mr. Mowry, Coach Mowry or Paul.
Paul grew up in St. Marys, where he wrestled and played football for the Flying Dutchmen. As a senior, in 1956, he was a starting offensive tackle on the Flying Dutch’s Bucktail Conference Championship team.
He was a member of the U.S. Army Reserves and began attending Clarion State College in 1957. This is where he and Kay met.
In 1966 Paul began his teaching and coaching career. Paul started teaching at A-C Valley High
School and began teaching science at Clarion Area Junior-Senior High School, three years later.
He coached both varsity and junior high football until the mid-80s and was the school’s strength
coach until he retired in 1998.
Paul became a Christian in 1973 and shortly after got involved with the FCA. Paul started FCA “huddles” at Clarion Area High School, as well as Clarion State College, volunteering with both ministries from the mid-70s until 2002.
His passion for the Lord and FCA saw him traveling all over Pennsylvania to help start FCA huddles at high schools. As part of this ministry, Paul created an “E-Team,” comprised of college students involved with FCA, to run services at churches all over Pennsylvania and neighboring states. He served as the Chairman of the Board for FCA in Pennsylvania. After retiring from teaching, Paul served on part-time staff with FCA.
I didn’t attend Clarion Area, but did have a long friendship with Paul which began in the 1970s, with FCA and also helping him work with athletes, as well as us working out ourselves, in the little “cracker jack box” of a weight room at the high school. Nothing in size or amount and quality of equipment in the strength and fitness facility at the school now.
But the kids who would work hard following Paul’s instructions could improve dramatically, despite the lack of equipment. I’m sure that them watching him go through his paces, always working hard, was a major inspiration. He would expect the them to work hard. He knew how to encourage them to get the most out of their workouts, words of praise and the occasional verbal “kick in the butt,” when they’d slack off.
One thing was for sure, Paul loved the kids and vice versa.
When you talked to Paul one-on-one, you could be sure you would hear about his love for the Lord. He just couldn’t keep it to himself. And he was sure to let you know that his salvation was only because of Jesus Christ. I don’t know how many times I heard him say, “I’m just a sinner saved by grace.”
Brad shared something that really highlights this in his dad’s life. He mentioned the McFerren’s. “They lived across the street from us my whole life. Sue McFerren led my parents to Christ – first my mom and then my dad through a book she gave him titled The Chaplain of Bourbon Street.
“Terri McFerren said that her family would pick us up for church in 72 and my dad would mock them from his recliner. She said (to Paul) recently: ‘I was young at the time and don’t know exactly when that changed, and you came to know Christ, but I do remember that once you got out of the recliner and accepted Christ, you have been on fire for the Lord ever since. You never wavered from your faith and have always been a faithful servant in sharing the Gospel with others through your words and actions. You have impacted so many lives throughout the years.’
“This is how I will remember him – he wasn’t perfect and didn’t have all the answers, but he got out of his recliner – his best ability in ministry was availability and God used him.”
Paul and Kay opened their home up For FCA meetings. He had on campus meetings at the college. He’d bring in guest speakers to special events. I remember him having a strength and conditioning seminar through FCA with local trainers and one or two former Steelers.
Brad shared, “I have no idea how many churches, camps, Bible studies, etc. he spoke at over the years, but it was a lot.” How many young lives did he touch over the years, as a coach, as a teacher, and through his work with FCA?”
I will always remember Paul’s harmonica playing. If you never got to see it, it was something to behold, as well as listen to. Brad shared, “He would play two at the same time: one with his mouth and one with his nose! He was invited to come on David Letterman’s “Stupid Human Tricks” after performing in a contest in Pittsburgh. He turned them down because he was speaking at a youth group retreat for a church in Mercer. There as a point where he wondered if he made the right choice and 20+ (years) later when I moved to Grove City I met somebody whose life was dramatically changed because of that retreat.”
It wasn’t all work and no play for Paul. A few years before he retired, Paul got his pilot’s license. And one of his top memories was Dad flying a B-17 Flying Fortress. Bob, also a licensed pilot who has built his own aircraft, signed Paul and himself up for this adventure that took place near Pittsburgh. Paul really enjoyed the years he spent flying.
A Memorial for Paul is planned for The Villages on September 18th. A date for a Memorial at Clarion is being worked out. We will pass the word along when everything is set.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, The
First Baptist Church of The Villages, FL, or Hospice of Marion County, FL – all organizations Paul
felt strongly about.
Through that ‘tough guy’ exterior, was a heart of gold. An absolute life well lived. An absolute life well lived for Jesus Christ. What a fine, fine man!!
