Name: Paul “Rusty” Ezzell

From: Prairie du Rocher, IL

About Paul:

Paul was an Airborne engineer from 1986-1990 stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC. He was an E-4 at the time of his discharge and has since became disabled due to a car accident in 1991

Paul volunteers at the J.B. Barracks VA Med Center in South County

Paul helped Eastern, IL University get the campus handicap accessible while he was a student there. He would talk in front of the student body and along with Martha Jacks, the head of disability coordination, hold awareness months. This would give the students and staff a chance to ride in a wheelchair, hear him and others talk about being disabled and the challenges they face on a daily basis

Paul says that through his time at the VA, he has been able to counsel new injury Vets and try to help them begin their life with whatever disability that they have. He gives them, at least he hopes he does, a glimmer of hope that even though they are injured, you can still have a happy and productive life

Paul feels like he can be, and is, an example of life after injury. That he can be a light at the end of a dark tunnel for a lot of men and women that are starting a new, and very scary, part of their life. He tries to show them that because of their military past, they have the tools, support, and desire to overcome this part of their lives and prosper. To use what they were taught in the military, i.e., strength, courage, desire, and using what is available to them to overcome whatever struggle that they are going through. He likes to lead by example

Paul loves the fact that KSHE has stayed true to its rock n’ roll roots and has kept everyone in STL rockin’ for the past 5 decades

Paul thinks the KSHE jocks are all personable and really easy to talk to

Paul says Sweetmeat is the best mascot ever

Paul is 51 years old and has a 13 y/o grandson that is the bomb

Paul sings with a local rock band called Dazed N Confused STL. He tries to show people when he sings with his band, anyone can do anything, if you just try

Paul has 2 Harley’s that he loves to ride

Paul is very close to his family … his mom, brother and nephews. His Grandma will be 90 this year in November and there are currently 5 generations of them living on the planet

Paul works at Sonnenberg’s Landscaping and Asphalt company as the manager of the Columbia, IL branch and says it is a great job

Paul is a Mason and a Shriner in Illinois and loves marching in the parades with his unit from the Shrine, Color Guard. They do a lot for the kids and that’s whats important. He says he just tries to stay busy and help when he can

KSHE songs that get Paul through the day:

April Wine – Roller
Ted Nugent – Stranglehold
The Allman Brothers Band – Midnight Rider
Rush – 2112
Grateful Dead – Man Smart Woman Smarter
Alice In Chains – Rooster
Pearl Jam – Even Flow
Black Sabbath – War Pigs
Sammy Hagar – Eagles Fly
Montrose – Bad Motor Scooter

---