As a member of W.S.F Eagle Harbor Shore Maintenance team, Paul Papas’ humble presence is enjoyed by his peers. Paul’s history with W.S.F. spans over 45 years, and he modestly gives information about his experiences only when asked. His job description includes, but is not limited to, the maintenance and preservation of the ferries and terminals marine coatings, non-skid, striping, as well as, maintenance of life rafts, rescue boats and emergency marine evacuation slides.

Paul started as a deckhand with W.S.F. in the summer of 1963. He went to permanent status on December 24, 1963. He worked the ferries until the summer of 1984, at which time he came to Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility as extra help, and then returned to the fleet. He came to stay in his “Shore Gang” position full-time in 1985. Paul has found his entire W.S.F. career to be “interesting and wonderful enough to fill a novel”. He saw his ferry crew mates as fascinating as they told their “salty” stories of their marine experiences, and he received their great source of experience and knowledge. Paul has always enjoyed and continues to take pleasure in working with his hands in and around the boats and at home. Respectfully, he says his time has gone by so fast.

Paul is a native of Greece, and at 15 years old along with friends he tried to enlist in the French Foreign Legion. He laughs when he says he and his friends were always looking for excitement, but they were too young to be accepted. Paul always had a yearning to come to the United States, as a young boy he would see American military personnel, later Paul found his adventures by enlisting in the U.S. Army. Paul says America has given him more than he’s ever asked God for, and he is very happy. So grateful and honored to be an American, for him a dream come true.

Paul met and married his wife of 43 years in Seattle. He says he and his wife got along for 43 years because she had a southern accent and with his Greek accent they couldn’t understand each other! His only child previously worked for Washington State Ferries, but recently relocated to Spokane and now works for the WSDOT Eastern Region. When asked if he has any regrets he says “Not buying Microsoft stock at $1.00 per share”.

Paul has always had an interest in sports, played soccer in Germany while in the military. Now he enjoys travel and cooking, recently returning from a trip to Greece, with plans to travel much more when he retires. He would like to see more of the United States. Even after 45 years with W.S.F., Paul has no plans of retirement anytime soon.

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