I don’t know if Paul Bryan ever actually sold cars, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he did, considering how much else he seemed to do in the auto industry. Either way, I think he would have been good at it. Paul was persistent.
That was my first impression of him, via an email forwarded to me last December. He and co-host Lauren Fix (who I salute below) had met with some from Blaze Media about a possible collaboration. Paul followed up, a little bemused by how slowly the company’s gears were turning. Well, he put it a bit more impressively:
“We’re all well aware that great ideas require thought, but we also don’t want to let our eggs sit for too long and hard-boil,” he wrote, before returning to the barn metaphor. “We have chickens. We have eggs. We have end-product consumers craving an end product. And we have the right farmers. And we seem poised for some action to bring them together.”
I emailed Paul and suggested that he and Lauren might be a good fit for a new lifestyle section I was editing. Paul’s reply cleverly ignored my cautious “maybe.” This is how I got into the chicken farming business.
At first, I was overwhelmed by Paul’s energy and enthusiasm. At times, I felt like I was 20 years older than them, but it was contagious. My Zoom calls with Paul and Lauren escalated from 20-minute structured chats to 90-minute, free-flowing conversations about anything and everything.
Even by email, Paul was not one to enjoy terse, impersonal communication.Unlike some naturally good talkers, Paul was also a great listener. When I mentioned casually that I had lived in Czechoslovakia, Paul, who lived in Milan and worked for Alfa Romeo, wanted to hear the whole story. He noticed and responded with genuine concern to my casual comments about a minivan collision or a local flood warning.
In the short time I knew Paul, I began to understand why Lauren thought of him as a brother. Paul was opinionated, funny, and passionate. But underneath it all, he had something else, something that’s hard to find these days. I think he was a gentleman.
I only worked with Paul for about six months and never met him in person, and while his contributions to Align represent only a small part of his legacy, they paint an incredibly rich portrait. Fearless Industry contrarian, world champion chili chef, proud Army veteran, and lifelong car enthusiast who just isn’t cut out for the slow lane.
My condolences go out to Paul’s family and many friends, of which I am happy to be one. Although it may be presumptuous of me, Probably so, but it seems most of the people who worked with him ended up feeling the same way. May he rest in peace.
—Matt Himes
It is with great sadness that we announce that Paul Bryan passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday evening with his daughter Lesley Durkan, granddaughter Quinn and his lovely girlfriend Pam by his side. May God give him a garage full of cars.
Paul lived an incredible life, and for those of us who didn’t have the chance to meet and know him, he was much more than just my co-host and driving buddy. Paul made friends and made an impact wherever he went.
Paul loved cars. He loved driving them, talking about them, doodling about them on cocktail napkins, and happily chatting (and sometimes arguing) about them with friends. That’s exactly what he did most of his life, and he now joins a car fraternity that includes his friend and mentor of 45 years, Carroll Shelby. Paul was also passionate about art, science, food, wine, music and fashion, because without at least some of these elements, cars wouldn’t be made or bought.
Paul was considered one of the most well-known, respected and in-demand automotive industry professionals in the United States. He was the Marketing Manager for the Alfa Romeo IndyCar team. He was the voice of the Chicago automotive industry for over 35 years. He led the communications and marketing team for the Chicago Auto Show and hosted a radio show called “Drive Chicago” on WLS Radio for 20 years.
He served as a prestigious judge for the North American Car Truck of the Year awards, served as president of the Midwest Automotive Media Association, is a two-time Emmy Award winner and was inducted into the Motorsports Guild Hall of Fame.
Paul Bryan was, in his own words, “always entertaining and sometimes actually informative.”
Paul Bryan was a proud veteran who served as director of the U.S. Army Radio and Television Network while stationed in the Panama Canal Zone during the Vietnam War in the early 1970s. His love and dedication to the Army continued long after he served his country. He served veterans through his charitable efforts for decades and served as a founding member of the board of directors of the Allen J. Lynch Medal of Honor Veterans Foundation.
Paul would do anything to help other veterans. In lieu of flowers, Paul would like donations made in his name to the Allen J. Lynch Medal of Honor Veterans Foundation. Helping other soldiers who sacrificed so much was another of his passions.
The Allen J. Lynch Medal of Honor Veterans Foundation provides grants to those involved in providing educational programs, PTSD support and direct assistance to veterans.
Allen J. Lynch Medal of Honor Veterans Foundation (501(c)(3) organization)
6615 Grand Avenue State B PMB 415
Gurnee, IL 60031
