Paul Hinton of Hemphill, TX went to be with the Lord Jan. 18, 2015. He was an avid outdoorsman who felt every child should have the privilege of being introduced to the wonders of God’s great outdoors. He taught this first to his children. In 1986 he founded the nonprofit “East Texas Get Hooked on Fishing Not Drugs” program. During the 20 years that he headed up this program, more than $370K worth of fishing related products were given to East Texas youth, with more than 22,000 students participating in poster/essay contests, and 250 clean role-models spoke in the participating schools.
This program received commendments by former Presidents George Bush and George W. Bush, former First Lady Nancy Reagan, and former Governor Ann Richards, many school superintendents, principals, teachers and parents. In 2009, Hinton was honored by Texas Parks and Wildlife through induction into the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.
Hinton was born January 13, 1921, in Pineville, Louisiana to Pulaski and Ada Hinton, and attended Louisiana Tech with a B.S. in Forestry and Game Conservation after being discharged from the U.S. Coast Guard during WWII. While attending college, he met his wife, Orelle Baker of Stonewall, LA. They moved to Pasadena, TX in 1950. After a long and successful career with Allstate Insurance, they moved to Toledo Bend Lake in Hemphill, TX.
He is survived by his wife, Orelle; daughter Pauline Tom and husband Ron of Mountain City, TX; son John Hinton and wife Helen Machuga of Livermore, CA; daughter Marsha Moon and husband Bill of Katy, TX; five grandchildren Tami Tom Zeiner, Ronda Tom Furrer, Nate Hinton, Jessica Hinton Heston, Holly Hauck Warren, and six great-grandchildren.
He has been an ordained deacon for approximately 50 years and an active member of Bethany Baptist Church, Milam, TX.
Services were held on Friday, Jan. 23. Graveside services followed at Bethany Baptist Memorial Gardens in Milam.
Memorial contributions in Paul Hinton’s name may be made to Boys and Girls Club of Deep East Texas, P.O. Box 631345, Nacogdoches, Texas 75963-1345. These donations will be used to purchase fishing rods and reels for East Texas youth.
