Paul, a native of Kansas City, KS, and a graduate of Wyandotte HS, was one of the greatest sprinters in Cloud County track history. At the time of his graduation in 1980, he held six individual school records and was a member of seven school-record relay teams. Jones was a first-team NJCAA All-American in 1980, running a then-school record of 46.4 in the 400m, which qualified him for the U.S. Olympic Trials. He still holds Cloud records in the indoor 600 and the outdoor 4x400m relay. Jones went on to run at the University of Arkansas where he was a six-time NCAA All-American and he set the U of A school record with a 46.05 clocking in the 400m. Paul lives with his wife in Kansas City, KS where he is a firefighter for the KCKFD.