Paul S. Mears Sr.

MEARS SR., PAUL S., died Friday at his home following a long illness which had debilitated him for over a year. He was 91 and remained a dominant force in everyone's life who knew him well, sometimes beyond what he knew or understood. He not only expected those around him to achieve, he demanded it, and he usually got the results he expected. His shoes will be difficult to fill. He was preceded by his wife of 65 years, Cora, in January of 2006, and his son Greg in 1980. He served in the Army Air Corp in England during WWII. Dad had only one love and one passion in his life, and he pursued them relentlessly as long as he was able. His true love was business and all its ramifications. He loved to say "it's not a business deal unless both parties to it are happy; otherwise somebody is stealing from somebody else". He bought many businesses in his life and to my knowledge he either bought them at the asking price or he declined to buy. He did not know or understand the concept of a zero sum game. His passion was integrity. It was never enough to accomplish your goals; you had to do it in a fair and equitable way. If not you had failed. He often quoted Socrates to reinforce this idea, saying "The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be who you desire to appear" In his later years he owned homes in both New Smyrna and Waynesville, NC and he tried to learn to play golf and take life easy. But it frankly wasn't in him, he loved only business and at the age of 90, no longer able to see very well or drive, he would have his beloved driver, Harry, bring him to the office every day so that he could "check on things", make sure we were doing it right. Of course by that time he didn't fully understand everything we did, didn't understand why it tood so many people, and sure didn't understand or like any of the computers it took to do whatever it was we were doing. But he darn sure knew if we were "doing it right", and if we weren't, he wasn't shy about "explaining it" to us. It was all pretty simple to him: "the folks want a ride get them a good car with a courteous drive, and get it to them fast, what's so hard about that?" It didn't matter to him that we were trying to do that 35,000 times a day; the principal was the same as it was 68 years ago when he started the company with 3 cabs. The company he founded in 1939 with 3 cabs was morphed into Mears Transportation Group (something else he didn't like, "what's wrong with City Cab Co? It was good enough for me!"), with about 1100 vehicles and 3000 people. Additionally there is a meeting planning company with offices in 5 cities. Whenever any of his sons, all of whom work in the business would boast about our accomplishments he would just say "you guys were just in the right place at the right time and you caught a tiger by the tail and don't know ho to let go" He was right. But to be fair, he never had the same confidence in the transportation business as his sons and grandsons have. He was a founding member of the Avis Rent A Car system in 1949, receiving the Central FL Franchise for $100. Riding the air travel boom of the 50's and 60's he expanded that franchise throughout the Southeast and eventually had operations in 10 cities. He sold that business in the late 60's and has regretted it ever since. He was a member of various social and civic organizations and was honored on various occasions for his business achievements. But these things were never as important to him as the things he created; his 4 sons, 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren: and his business. Many's the time he has admonished me, "if you take care of that business right, it will take care of all my children, grandchildren and maybe even my great grandchildren, don't screw up"! He was a force of nature in the Mears Family. A force to be battled with, bent by, but never to be overcome. You don't replace a man like him; you can only hope to emulate him. The Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, June 27, 2007, 2PM in the Main Sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church, 106 E. Church St., Orlando. The interment will be private. Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home, Orlando. Please visit and sign our family guest book at www.baldwinfairchild.com Please sign and view our website @www.baldwinfairchild.com