Tall Paul

Rumor has it that Annette Funicello
Was singing about Warren (Paul) Murrell
When she recorded this song back in 1959

(okay, okay maybe not)
He would have been hanging around in
In his hometown...Lafayette Louisiana about then
Maybe 16 years old
Probably already "Tall"

He may have already met his wife, Nell 

Of more than 50 years by then to

Some years later he was an Air Force Lieutenant Colonel

Running the assignments and career development section
For the Air Force Medical Service Corps
At Randolph Air Force Base Texas
The job was a 'tall order
And he was successful in getting help
By adding a new position...
A deputy of sorts

I was a brand new major
About to come off a humanitarian assignment
And Paul interviewed me at an MSC symposium
He was suffering from some sort of judgement deprivation that day
So he chose me
We would go on to spend something over three years together
Supporting around 1,200 Air Force health care administrators
As they moved on average every three years
(Some much more often)
From base to base around the world

Of the 1,200, a thousand or more were on their way up
In rank, responsibility or both and we tried to help
Around 100 were on their way down and we tried to help soften the blow
In my 50 plus years of work, from apple picker to hospital administrator 

To health plan COO to consultant
I have never had a finer job nor a finer boss

The women and men of the Medical Service Corps
In the mid-eighties were by and large ethical, hard working
Collegial and devoted to quality health care delivery
For all Air Force families
Tall Paul Murrell was their perfect shepherd

His favorite saying was (and probably still is)
"On the other side of it..." as a preface to looking
At an issue from another perspective
And then, when he didn't want to give in on an issue
His other favorite expression would surface; "I continue to believe..."
All in that Southern gentleman voice, wrapped in persuasion
I never got tired of witnessing that
As every day he and I tried to successfully work our way through
The politics of job assignments

There were a lot of times when there was no clear answer 

Or the powers that be dictated an action
And we ended up making a move that did not appear correct
When that happened, he would shake his head, flash that huge grin
And we would move on

His primary weapon was the truth
His primary goal was doing the best job for everyone
If you were face-to-face he would add that huge grin
And a twinkle in his eye
That signaled...between the two of you,
You could work things out

Paul and I have worked a lot together in our second lives:

• The start up of CRI - the original Tricare contract
• Firms like Aetna and Prudential in pursuit of subsequent Tricare contracts
• Small non-profit health care quality assurance firms on Medicare and Medicaid initiatives

Beyond the Medical Service Corps
Through it all, the magic and the truth 

(however hard that can be sometimes)
Has always served us

I am thinking, whenever he hits those heavenly gates,
Saint Peter will call him aside and say;
"Hey Paul, I need someone to help me make sure all these people
Get where they need to be. You seem to be the perfect man for the job."

That move would have my vote.