Paul Leon Black-Arroyo Grande High Teacher, CA

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Or  A Memory You Had With Paul~

Paul Leon Black – Former teacher at Arroyo Grande High School passed away on the 13th of March 2006 in Idaho Falls, Idaho from a pulmonary aneurism. He was born in Los Angeles, California on the 6th of March 1931. He graduated from El Camino Junior College with an Associate Arts degree in 1953 then continued his education at Whittier College where he received his Bachelor’s degree in 1955. His first teaching job was in November 1955 at Roseville High School where he taught Life Science. He continued teaching there through 1957 and taught Life Science, P.E., Track and Cross Country. In the summer of 1960, Paul signed a contract to teach school at Arroyo Grande High School and moved his family to Arroyo Grande, California. There, he taught Biology and Yearbook. He also helped coach track in his earlier years there. He was also very active in photography and various sales jobs. He took photos at weddings and high school proms. In 1971, Paul retired from teaching and moved to Fresno, California to pursue his sales endeavors. He eventually moved to Declo, Idaho where he went back into teaching at Declo High School in 1974 and taught Life Science and was an assistant wresting coach. In 1977, he moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho and taught at Bonneville High School in Idaho Falls. In 1981, Paul retired from teaching for good. He helped raised 8 children with his wife Nancy Black. Some of his accomplishments, that he took pride in, was: Becoming an Eagle Scout in 11 months and was awarded the “Top 20 Eagle Scouts” in the Los Angeles Area and then being awarded a free 10-day High Sierra Trip; Taking 4th in the California State Mile in 1952; Winning on the Drake Relay Team while attending Whittier College in 1955. Paul loved nature. He studied and watched birds and knew all their names. He enjoyed hiking in the forest and mountains. He studied trees and was an avid botanist. He had a sweet tooth for black-walnut ice cream. He was most enjoyable when he played games with the family and shared his humorous wit as he drank his favorite drink – “Wink” which was made by Canada Dry.