Paul L. David

Paul L. David

Founder and president of

Camelot Music Corp. dies

Paul L. David, 79, a lifelong resident and founder of the Camelot Music retail chain, died at home Nov. 7, 2002, following a brief illness.

He was born May 21, 1923, to loving Lebanese immigrant parents Joseph and Marie (Toubia) David. He grad uated from Washington High School in 1941, where he formed a lifelong friendship with the legend ary Paul E. Brown.

Upon graduating, he served honorably in the United States Army during World War II. Following the war, he rejoined his family in Massillon and began working alongside brothers, Edmond, Tom, Johnny, and Raymond, and sister, Helen, at David Bros. Wholesale Toys.

In 1956, as a self-proclaimed "peddler," he began selling records from the trunk of his '56 Buick to grocery stores throughout Ohio. In 1957, he expanded his distribution to larger retail chains, including Kresge, F.W. Woolworth, and W.T. Grant, and opened his first Stark Record & Tape Service warehouse at 1331 S. Erie St. As the business grew, he relocated to Duncan St. S.W., where he remained until 1968. In 1969, the company took a major step when it built its new and present-day office and ware house facility in North Canton In dustrial Park. This marked the be ginning of what would eventually become the home of the highly successful and nationally recog nized Camelot Music Store chain, with over 400 locations throughout 40 states.

During the course of his profes sional career, he earned numerous national awards and recognition for his accomplishments. Camelot Mu sic received the recording industry's prestigious N.A.R.M. (National As sociation of Recording Merchandis ers) Retailer of the Year Award an unprecedented six times. In addition, Camelot Music received nu merous awards for their efforts in operations, marketing, merchandis ing, and service. Camelot Music, by all industry standards, was considered to be the preeminent music retailer in the country and was clearly the nation's leading mall music retailer.

In 1993, at age 70, he made a difficult personal decision to sell his beloved company. Motivated by a personal mission to see the com pany operated locally, he sold to an international investment group (Invest Corp.) that, to this day, has maintained its local presence in the North Canton Industrial Park.

Upon the sale of his company, he and his dear and dedicated wife, Carol, established the Paul & Carol David Foundation. Its mission is and has been to serve the needs of local, underprivileged children. As a young man growing up in a large family during the Depression era in Massillon, he vowed to assist other youth, just like himself, who could not obtain the means to further their education. To date, the Paul & Carol David Foundation has provided scholarship opportunities to more than 300 area high-school students. The Foundation continues to assist many other humanitarian and philanthropic causes within the community and will serve as a lasting legacy to his profound life.

He was a lifelong member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, where he has actively participated in main taining the church's character and history. He also enjoyed immensely the fellowship provided him through his membership at the Massillon Elks Lodge 441. In 1983, he founded the Massillon Tiger Football Orangemen, where his goal was to provide additional financial assistance to the Massillon Tiger football program. His love and passion for Tiger football can be traced back to the days of his dear friend and mentor, the great Paul E. Brown. Both men shared the commitment to maintain the standard of excellence established by Coach Brown himself, and to this day, the rich tradition of excellence contin ues to flourish.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Marie (Toubia) David; brothers, Tofic and Esser; and sisters, Betty and Josephine (Castora).

He is survived by his beloved wife of 44 years, Carol (Westphall); two sons, Jeff and Mark, both of Massillon; daughters, Pam (Don) Crile and Paula (Joseph) Belloni, both of North Canton; and six grandchildren, Matthew, Katie, An drew, Brandon, Lauren, and Chad. Also surviving are dear brothers, Edmond of Massillon, Tom of Southern Pines, S.C., John (Marci) of Massillon, Raymond of Massil lon, Rev. Richard of Uniontown, Pa., Robert (Carolyn) of Massillon, and dear sisters, Isabelle George of Akron and Helen of Massillon.

A Mass of Christian Burial is at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, with Rev. Raymond Paul officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph's Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10, at Paquelet Fu neral Home in Massillon. The Elks will be conducting a service Sunday at 1:40 p.m. Mr. David will lie in state at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Monday from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to any of the following: Saint Vincent de Paul Society of St. Jo seph's Catholic Church, 330 Fourth St. S.E., Massillon, Ohio 44646; the Boys and Girls Club of Massil lon, 730 Duncan St. S.W., Massillon, Ohio 44647; and Massillon Tiger Football Orangemen, P.O. Box 92, Massillon, Ohio 44648.

(Paquelet, Massillon,

330-833-3222.)

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