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Rites For Paul L. Proud, Sr., Goodyear's Head, Set Tomorrow

Rites For Paul L. Proud, Sr., Goodyear's Head, Set Tomorrow image
Parent Issue
Day
2
Month
January
Year
1962
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Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
Obituary
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Rites For Paul L. Proud, Sr., Goodyear’s Head, Set Tomorrow

Illness Is Fatal At Age 73

Memorial services for the family and friends of Paul L. Proud, sr., of 1070 Ferdon Rd., president and manager of Goodyear’s Department Store, will be held at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in the Muehlig Chapel.

Mr. Proud, who was 73, died yesterday morning at his home following a long illness.

Long a civic leader, Mr. Proud was a moving force in the Ann Arbor business community. He had served in a number of local organizations since moving lo the city a few years after the turn of the century.

He was born Nov. 6, 1888, at Aberdeen. S. D., the son of John and Mittie Jane Smith Proud.

Came To State At 14

He first came to Michigan at the age of 14 on a music scholarship, attending the Orchard Lake Military Academy. He was a drummer for the South Dakota State Band.

Proud attended the University of Michigan Law School for one year.

He married Florence St. James in Ann Arbor about 1906. She died May 23. 1948. He married Gladys Mahoney, who survives, in December, 1947.

Mr. Proud operated a store at LeBeau, S. D., and a store on an Indian reservation at Promise, S. D., before coming to Ann Arbor.

He began his association with Goodyear’s as a clerk in 1912. He acquired 40 per cent ownership when the firm was incorporated in 1916 and served as president and manager from then until illness forced his retirement in June of last year.

Bought Interest

Mr. Proud bought the interest of William Goodyear in the store in 1939 and had directed development of the firm to a gross annual business in excess of $1 million. He expanded the store's operations by taking over the former Woolworth Building in 1949 and expanded again to take over the former Muir Drug Store in 1958.

He had served twice as president of the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce and served as president of the C of C Retail Merchants Division.

He was a charter member of the Ann Arbor Area United Fund, serving as treasurer when the community campaign was formally organized in 1921. He had been an active UF campaigner through the years.

Mr. Proud was a past exalted ruler of Ann Arbor Elks Lodge No. 325 and had been active in local. Masonic circles. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor and of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.

Survivors Named

In addition to his wife, M. Proud is survived by a son, Paul L. Proud, jr., of Ann Arbor; a daughter, Mrs. Felice Pargh of Ann Arbor; and a brother, Chester Proud, of Aberdeen, S. D.

Paul L. Proud, jr., Philip Pargh, and Eckhardt E. Schroen took over management of Good-year’s when Mr. Proud retired on June 23, 1961. The store has approximately 100 employees.

Cremation has taken place. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Paul L. Proud, Sr.