Buffalo State Hall of Fame
Recognized for his collegiate athletic career.
Paul's Story
The man behind the award
World-record powerlifter. Collegiate All-American. Coach, mentor, gym owner. And, first and always, a kid who was told what he couldn't do — and decided otherwise.
1978
It started with a Christmas gift
Paul was eight years old when he watched Don Reinhoudt compete at the World's Strongest Man in 1978. That Christmas, he unwrapped a training kit — weights and dumbbells. It turned out to be the pivotal moment of his life.
He played baseball and hockey as a child, then football in high school. He excelled at both football and baseball, and chose to continue at the Division III football program at Buffalo State College. Powerlifting and football went hand in hand.
That an eight-year-old could be changed for good by watching one high-level athlete is not a detail of Paul's story. It became the whole thesis of how he built his gym decades later.
The record book
What he accomplished
| Lift | Weight | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Squat | 1,147.5 lb | 308 lb |
| Bench Press | 694.4 lb | 308 lb |
| Total | 2,662 lb | 308 lb |
His powerlifting accomplishments remain ranked at the top worldwide in both the 308 lb. and super heavyweight divisions.
Tonawanda High School Hall of Fame
Honored by his hometown school.
Buffalo Weightlifting Hall of Fame
Inducted for his contribution to the sport.
York Barbell Weightlifting Hall of Fame
Recognized among the sport's most accomplished lifters.
Why it mattered to him
“Different levels of dedication and commitment”
It was something he said a lot. He believed anything was possible if you were dedicated and committed — and he was “all in” with everything he did. A challenge, in Paul's eyes, was an opportunity, not an obstacle.
As a child and through college, Paul struggled in school due to a reading disability. Athletics and powerlifting gave him the confidence he needed to set higher standards for himself and to reach goals others thought were unobtainable.
He truly believed that with the right level of dedication and commitment, he could do anything. And he saw talent in people that they didn't even know they had. If that natural talent was met with dedication — to their sport, or to their life — then he believed anything was possible.
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1971
Born in Tonawanda
January 2, 1971.
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1978
Watches the World's Strongest Man
Sees Don Reinhoudt compete at age 8; receives a weight set that Christmas.
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High School
Football and baseball at Tonawanda
Excels in both sports while continuing to train.
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College
Buffalo State College
Competes in the Division III football program and becomes a collegiate All-American.
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Career
World records and Halls of Fame
Sets world records in the 308 lb. class and is inducted into four Halls of Fame.
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Family
A shared passion and a growing family
Marries an accomplished powerlifter, and together they raise two children.
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The Dream
Childress Performance opens
The gym he envisioned and talked about over and over becomes real.
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2023
Remembering Paul
Paul passed away on September 22, 2023. This scholarship honors his memory and carries his legacy forward.
How he lives on
Childress Performance
Opening a gym that offered a safe place to train and excel was Paul's life dream. Childress Performance was that dream come true — the gym he envisioned and talked about over and over.
It's a powerlifting and athletic gym, but it's friendly to all. He wanted young athletes and general gym-goers training alongside high-level athletes. Paul was inspired by a high-level athlete at the age of eight; that made a lasting impact on his decision to open a gym inclusive of all ages, levels, and abilities — turning no one away who had an interest or a passion.
He wanted that to inspire people, and to help build their confidence to see that anything is possible.