A native Beloiter, Paul was born in Beloit on January 25, 1897, at 320 Bluff Street and lived there most of his life. He was the son of George and Emille Kurtz Frederick.

On June 1, 1917, Paul enlisted in a radio signal company organized by Professor (Major) C.P. Culver of Beloit College and spent two years in foreign service. A 1918 graduate of Beloit High School, Paul received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Beloit College “in absentia” and was awarded Phi Beta Kappa honors. He earned a Master’s Degree from Harvard University in Business and later was honored by his alma mater by the presentation of a Distinguished Service Certificate.

He married Jean Jeffery on April 17, 1923 and she died on January 28, 1981.

Paul became a corporator of Beloit Savings Bank in January 1927 and three years later he became a trustee. He managed the loan department, served as trust officer, secretary, treasurer, president from 1962 through 1971 and as chairman of the board prior to his retirement. His banking career started in 1923 and terminated with his death while he was still a corporator.

Although banking was his first love and his business, it was only one of his many interests. He did yeoman service for the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, serving as superintendent of the Sunday School, as a vestryman and a Senior Warden. He worked for the United Givers campaigns, serving as chairman from 1952 through 1955, the American Legion and veterans’ groups, the Masonic Brotherhood, the Beloit Board of Education from 1932 through 1938, the Beloit Library Board from 1929 through 1932, the Beloit City Plan Commission from 1943 through 1964, the American Automobile Association Wisconsin State Board and numerous other boards and committees.

In his profession he was an instructor for the American Institute of Banks, president of the Rock County Banker’s Association and a director of the National Association of Mutual Savings Banks.

One of Paul’s great loves was the YMCA where he served as a director from 1930 through 1963 and again from 1964 through 1967 when he was named a Life Member. He was Chairman of the Boys’ Work Committee from 1931 through 1946, vice president and later president from 1947 through 1951. Perhaps his crowning achievement with the YMCA was his chairmanship of the new YMCA building committee.

He didn’t neglect the young ladies of the community either. He served on the YWCA Advisory Board from 1950 through 1971.

Paul joined the Beloit Rotary Club in 1927, served as secretary-treasurer from 1932 through 1936 and was president during the 1937-38 term. Rotary International and the Beloit Club honored him when he was elected a Paul Harris Fellow, lauding his exemplary service to Rotary, his profession and the community.

Paul L. Frederick’s physical stamina, mental agility, personal warmth, unfailing dignity and enormous capacity for good works made Paul Frederick one of Beloit’s most admired and respected citizens. His death in January of 1982 ended a long and remarkable active career as a banker, youth booster and business community leader. To say that he is missed is not enough. He is fondly and gratefully remembered by a legion of friends and associates.