| 2004-05 Recipient
Paul Bickel III
 The
little-known fact that Paul Bickel III shares a birthday with
children's book legend Harry Potter probably isn't something
this year's Collegiate Service Award winner would mention
during a conversation.
But ask anyone who knows Paul and you will
soon appreciate why he deserves to share his birthday with
a wizard owning a magical touch. According to Paul's wife,
Jackie, the Harry Potter reference is something their daughters,
Katie and Claire, mention on occasion, exemplifying the girls'
admiration for their father.
"My dad is the best dad ever. He's always
willing to help other people even when he's really busy,"
said Collegiate 11th-grader Katie. "He is on a ton of boards
and committees, but he still always finds time to spend with
my sister and me. We've done so many cool things together."
Collegiate 10th-grader Claire and Paul go
on annual "great adventures" where they pick a location and
stay a week; they have been to Chicago, the Olympics in Atlanta,
camping in the Shenandoah, and on a mission trip in the Appalachian
Mountains.
His daughters are accurate about their father's
involvement in the community and helping others. He is a past
member on the board of the American Red Cross, St. Francis
in the Fields and the Blue Apple Players. He is a current
board member of River Fields, Cave Hill Cemetery Company,
Episcopal Church Home and Collegiate.
"He loves the school," Jackie said. "There
is a rich history in his family here at Collegiate, starting
with his grandparents whose first home was on Glenmary."
Paul's aunts Virginia Bickel Dalton and Joan
Potter Bickel graduated from the school and his sister Nancy
attended Collegiate.
As chairman of Collegiate's Building Committee,
Paul has been instrumental in overseeing the implementation
of the school's $17 million Master Plan. "No one deserves
to be recognized for his hard work and dedication to Collegiate
more than Paul," said Head of School Barbara B. Groves. "No
one deserves to be recognized for his hard work and dedication
to Collegiate more than Paul," Head of School Barbara B. Groves
said. "We owe him so much for his time and tireless efforts
toward helping us reach our goals. He is the shining example
of what this service award truly means."
Paul, 49, graduated from Kentucky Country
Day and went to Stetson University, where he graduated in
1978 with a degree in business administration. Currently,
he is president of U.S. Specialties, which is a commercial
building supply company. He is the managing member of Spring
Street Developers LLC, which developed commercial rental properties
on Spring Locust and in Washington Streets in Louisville,
and he is the managing member of Spring River, LLC, which
developed Spring River Business Park on River Road in Louisville.
Paul is a member of the Long Run Hunt Club
where he enjoys fox hunting and horseback riding, even though
he is allergic to horses. "He finds a way around it," Jackie
said, adding that the foxes are hunted but not killed. His
enjoyment of fishing led him to join the Juniper Club in Astor,
Florida.
"With Paul it really isn't quantity, it's
quality. It is truly interesting to watch him work," Jackie
said. "Paul is about doing the right thing versus the quick
thing."
Jackie said her husband even finds time
to mentor students from Yale University who participate in
the Bulldogs in the Bluegrass, a program that brings Yale
students to Louisville for summer internships.
His daughter Katie agrees: "My dad is the best role model.
He's kind, honest, hard working, fair and really fun to be
around."
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