of Conway, AR

August 5, 1938 - April 23, 2024

Born to William (Bill) and Meathel Allen Revis on August 5, 1938, in Bismarck, Arkansas, Paul Neil Revis passed from this earth on April 23, 2024. The eldest of four children, he embraced his birth order and assumed command of the small squad of siblings as they arrived, a role he would carry to heights not even foreseeable at the time. He spent his formative years in and near Benton, Arkansas in the presence of immediate and extended family from whom he learned lessons of love, acceptance, fellowship, humor, sacrifice, and devotion from all who offered an example. He often spoke of the practical and valuable lessons he learned as a child and young man from those he loved, and more importantly spent everyday time around.

Paul, known to be a relentlessly dedicated worker, started working as just a little guy around the family home and barnyard. One of his first additional assignments was as an anti-theft alarm on the back of his grandfather's produce cart as they conducted business. The experience was a practical, unfiltered set of lessons he referred to throughout his life regarding the character and motivation of individuals, both good and bad. His early agricultural career began with a crop of strawberry plants placed too near the creek that ended up victims of a spring gully washer. He later found success with okra that loved the long, hot Arkansas summers. Paul's paying career started in the 5th grade as a "Janitor's Helper" for the Benton Arkansas schools. He literally hustled his way to the front of the candidates after hearing some of the other boys discussing the open position-bolting to the janitor at a nearby school building as soon as his last class was dismissed. The job was his, and his cash money work began, continuing with the Western Auto in downtown Benton, Mitchell's Ice Cream Bar, and many other opportunities as they arose. Later, his children naively believed him that ''Labor Day'' was the day we honored labor by staying home and working on projects around the house.

He was the first to attend college from an ingenuitive, hard-working, and indominable, but not formally educated ancestry. The dedication required to attend college was much more profound than typical, leaving for college with his father in a terminal condition and literally only having enough funds on hand for the first year. In pursuit of the dream of college education, but desperate for adequate funds, he and some friends headed to Alaska for summer break after a third year of college. There was word of high paying pipeline labor work in Alaska. When they arrived, he found out that the pipeline wasn't looking for ambitious college boys. They wanted skilled labor, but there was work available fighting forest fires. So, he bought equipment for a firefighting kit and had his assignment for the summer. The pay was not like pipeline pay, but it was pretty good and there were not many places to spend it in the bush. That experience was a memory of success through dedication and resilience that he treasured. Only a few months ago he asked his son to search through his things and find a homemade knife he bought as part of the impromptu firefighting kit so that he could examine the knife and remember the adventure. In addition to college money, he had earned enough to buy a 1955 pink Dodge automobile from which he would court his eventual bride, Rosalie (although her mother wondered out loud what kind of boy would drive a pink car). After six hard-working years of academics at Arkansas Polytechnical College and the University of Arkansas, and continuous work: a Rotational Training Program with the Corps of Engineers, a bricklayer's helper (carrying bricks, blocks, stones, and mortar), and many hours of ROTC training, Paul had earned a degree in Civil Engineering and had become a freshly minted Army 2nd Lieutenant (1962).

After a tour of active duty at Ft. Hood, Texas and Ft. Polk, Louisiana, and the birth of daughter Roslyn, Paul began long and distinguished careers with the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Army

Reserve, where he achieved the rank of Brigadier General, and as Executive Director of the Arkansas Waterways Commission and the Ouachita River Valley Association. Paul took night classes to earn a Master of Science in Civil Engineering and also became a Registered Professional Engineer. Paul exhibited practically boundless energy as he progressed in both his civilian career and his military career simultaneously, while also remaining dedicated to his immediate, extended, and church families. His civilian career with the Corps of Engineers saw him progress from Civil Engineer in the Structures Section and the Navigation Section to Chief of Navigation and Maintenance, having staff responsibility for operation and maintenance of 313 miles of navigable river channel with 12 locks and dams on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, five multipurpose high head dams in the White River Basin, and three District flood control dams. Simultaneously, he progressed in his military career from First Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel, Battalion Commander of the 489th Engineering Battalion in Little Rock. He served as Commander of the 353rd Engineer Group in Oklahoma City and was promoted to Colonel. He was selected to organize and command the 460th Chemical Group in North Little Rock and Jacksonville in 1985. In 1987, he was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned as the Deputy Commander of the 122nd Army Reserve Command at Camp Pike, Arkansas.

As Paul progressed on his path, he built on three interdependent columns: Relationships, Education, and Dedication. He loved and valued people and built personal and professional relationships in practically every circumstance. His relationship with God was of great importance to him, and he demonstrated faith and commitment in ways and in circumstances that were evident to those who knew him.

Education was a primary buoy that lifted Paul from a background of subsistence and enabled him to blaze a trail for his descendants to live without fear of need or want. His education came at not only his cost, but the cost of his mother, sisters, and brother who sacrificed financially and provided unwavering support to enable his education. When his father died of cancer during his freshmen year of college and Paul offered to return home to support his mother and siblings, his mother simply said, according to Paul's account, '''Absolutely Not!' …with a set jaw and intense eyes of resolve that only a mother can send a child, no matter how old.'' This directive was given even though she had almost no savings and no predictable way of supporting the family in the new circumstance. That is commitment to the value of education. During times of continuing education as an adult, Rosalie was equally committed. Paul and Rosalie projected their commitment forward by generously providing resources for the education of all of their children and grandchildren-commitment proven by action.

Dedication has been demonstrated in Paul's life at levels rarely seen. Thirty-year careers with both the Army and the Corps of Engineers, over six decades of marriage, and his willingness to always give time and attention to his family and friends. Most would not detect from his pleasant demeanor that at many times along his career path he was working exceptional hours at challenging tasks. For example, he would work a full day at his civilian job, drive to his Army Reserve job and work until 10 p.m. or later, go home and read management or philosophy books until early morning, and then begin the cycle again. The weekends might then require travel for Army Reserve and long hours of duty throughout the weekend days, plus all of the family and friend commitments that he held dear. An optimization algorithm was demonstrated in Revis family summer vacations: travel to some ''exotic'' Army post, sightseeing stops along the way (sometimes

even locks and dams and battlefields!), dinner out every night (bonus), and a hotel with a pool (double bonus) nearby post.

Regardless of the daily format, the focus remained on building relationships, learning formally and informally along the way, and remaining true to people and ideals worth believing in.

Paul is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Mary Rosalie (Causbie) Revis; children Roslyn (Revis) Grimsley of Dallas, Paul Allen Revis and daughter-in-law Londa (Wagner) Revis of Conway; grandchildren Mara (Grimsley) George and Drew George of Little Rock, Alyssa (Grimsley) Donley and Kile Donley of Omaha, Nebraska, Reese Grimsley of Dallas, and Samuel Revis and Courtney (Green) Revis of Phoenix, Arizona; three greatgrandchildren; and brother and sister-in-law William ''Dub'' and Rebecca Revis. He was predeceased and has joyously reunited with his parents Bill and Meathel, his daughter Andrea Kay Revis, his grandson Paul Loren Revis, his twin sisters Carolyn (Revis) Lenz and Glenda (Revis) Helmich and many other family members that he loves so dearly.

Because Paul felt very strongly about advancing educational opportunities for students, especially students who work very hard to overcome life circumstances to achieve academic success, his family is establishing and believes that he would be greatly pleased and honored by creation of a scholarship in his name at his alma mater to support Civil Engineering students. Memorial contributions may be sent to:

Gift Administration

1125 W. Maple Street

Fayetteville, AR 72701

Payable to the University of Arkansas Foundation for the AACE Paul N. Revis Endowed Scholarship.

There will be a visitation at the Roller-McNutt funeral home in Conway 6-8 p.m. on Friday, May 3rd, and a funeral service with full military honors at the Pinecrest funeral home in Alexander that will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday May 4th, with burial at Pinecrest Memorial Park following the funeral service.

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