|
Grandson
of local man still listed as missing
by
Ivan Foley
Landmark editor
The
attack by terrorists on the twin World Trade Center towers
in New York City directly touched the life of at least
one Platte County man.
Kenneth Sloan of rural Platte City says his grandson,
28-year-old Paul Sloan, was working on the 88th floor
of the 110-story second World Trade Center tower that
was hit. He has not been seen since the attack and remains
on the lengthy list of missing persons, now believed to
contain more than 5,000 names.
"He watched the plane hit the other building. He
called his mother, father and brother then we lost contact
after that," Sloan explained.
Paul talked to his mother in California, his father in
Texas and his brother in Los Angeles in three separate
conversations before the second plane hit the tower where
he worked in the investment business.
"We still haven't given up hope that he's alive,"
a misty-eyed Kenneth Sloan said Monday morning.
No survivors have been found in the resulting rubble
from the collapse of the towers since last Wednesday.
Paul had worked at the World Trade Center less than a
year. Prior to that he had worked in San Francisco.
Paul is the son of Ronald Sloan. Ronald grew up in Platte
County. He attended Immaculata High School in Leavenworth
and graduated from MU, where he had played as a lineman
for Dan Devine's teams in the late 1960s that earned berths
in the Gator Bowl and Orange Bowl.
Paul Sloan, who is not married, grew up in Novato, Calif.,
about 25 miles north of San Francisco.
Paul followed his Dad's lead as a college football player.
Paul played at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
He also followed his Dad's profession lead. Ron is in
the investment business and works for a firm that has
offices throughout the United States. Ron, in fact, at
times works out of the same World Trade Center that Paul
was in at the time of last Tuesday's attack.
Ron was in his company's office in Houston, Tex. last
Tuesday.
Kenneth Sloan said his first thought when he heard about
the attack was about Ron.
"I thought, 'where's Ron?' I had forgotten about
Paul working up there," Sloan said.
Kenneth Sloan said Ron and his wife, Patricia, are having
trouble talking about the tragedy. He has stopped calling
trying to get any new information.
"They finally told me they'd call me when they learn
something," he said.
Sloan said he last saw Paul about four years ago when
he went to watch Paul play his final football game for
Brown.
"People in Platte County know me, but most don't
know these kids. They've basically been a California family,"
said Kenneth Sloan, who was instrumental several years
ago in preserving the old Platte City High School into
a community center. The building is now a Civic Center
that will eventually house all of the City of Platte City
offices.
Kenneth Sloan still has a clipping from a publication
from Paul's senior year in high school. In that publication,
Paul was honored as being "An Outstanding Novato
Student."
The article refers to Paul as having "a quiet confidence
and friendly demeanor that tells you his strength of character
matches his physical prowess. The San Marin High School
senior is one of two Marin County athletes named to the
National High School Hall of Fame.
"Paul has been recognized as a scholar/athlete in
addition to receiving Marin County Athletic League first-team
honors for both offensive and defensive play."
The article continues: "His dedication to football
has not kept Paul from his studies. He has managed to
maintain a GPA close to 4.0, and his courses have included
advanced placement classes in English and calculus. He
is a lifetime member of the California Scholarship Federation
and vice president of his senior class.
"Outside of school, Paul has been employed by the
Novato Department of Parks and Recreation, coaching basketball
and supervising day camp. He has also performed community
service through his church.
"Paul will be at Brown University this fall, exploring
many areas of interest—economics, business, political
science—and playing football. He is looking forward
to the East coast experience, seeing new places and meeting
new people."
|
