Hall of Fame
Paul Culliver played football and ran track at Jones County Junior College from 1979-81.
Though he initially had his sights set on Southern Miss, his path shifted when JCJC Coach Sim Cooley visited Raleigh and said, “Your brother played for me. That makes us family.” Paul joined the Jones Bobcats, where he became a two-year starter, team captain, conference champion, champion hurdler and academic award recipient—experiences that shaped his leadership style and long-term approach to life.
He was a starting tight end for 24 consecutive games for the 1979-80 football teams.
The 1979 team went 9-3 and won the MACJC championship with a 12-0 victory over Mississippi Gulf Coast. The 1980 Bobcats were also 9-3 and played in the league championship game. Culliver competed two seasons at the state level on the Bobcat track team in hurdles.
Culliver came to Jones from Raleigh High School where was All-Conference in football, a team captain and Most Valuable Player. He also ran track and played basketball. The Lions won the Wayne Bowl title and the District 5 Track and Field Championship while he was there.
After college, Culliver chose to forgo football scholarships and headed to Texas in search of opportunity. At just 23, he launched his first of many businesses and enjoyed a successful career in oil and gas, healthcare, real estate and timber.
In 2002, life changed with the heartbreaking loss of his four-year old nephew, Adam, to leukemia. In response, Paul became a committed advocate for childhood cancer research, meeting with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., and supporting organizations like Adam’s Angels Ministries—keeping Adam’s memory close while helping other families in need.
Over the years, he served as an officer and director of Rolling Acres Retirement Center in Raleigh from 1992 until its sale in 2014. He has been a longtime supporter of Adam’s Angels Ministries. He has traveled to Washington, DC for several years as a representative with the Children’s Oncology Group to help seek legislation and funding for pediatric cancer research.
Throughout his life, Culliver has remained deeply involved in service—whether it’s rebuilding a home for a family in crisis, serving on church committees, or supporting student-athletes and scholars in Mississippi and in Texas. He currently serves as Vice President of the Jones College Foundation and Finance and Investment Committee. In 2010, he created the endowment, the 1979 State Championship Team Scholarship, in honor of his teammates. In 2018, he was named one of the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. He also established an endowment fund under his name and the names of his two brothers who also attended JCJC in the 1970s.
Today, Culliver and his wife, Cindy, live in Houston, Texas, surrounded by their children and grandchildren. He stays active in consulting, ranching, real estate and timber.
Culliver has long drawn inspiration from Teddy Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” speech—a reminder that it’s not the critic who counts, but the one who dares greatly. Raised with simple means, he gives back to help others access the same opportunities he once had. He hopes his journey encourages others to take risks, work hard, and believe in what’s possible.
