Capt. Richard Paul holds a U.S. Coast Guard 50 Ton Master near Coastal License, with an Assistance Towing Endorsement. Richard is a certified PADI diver, he is also certified as an Oil Spill 1st Responder Hazardous Material Technician (HAZMAT).
Capt. Richard Paul was born in Leesburg, Florida and grew up in the Lakeland / Winter Haven area. While growing up he spent most of his weekends on Little Gasparilla Island, where he fished, explored and helped his dad build a cabin. Richard always looked forward to the trips, but more because it meant he could go fishing than it was to help his dad build their weekend cabin.
Richard’s family moved into the cabin after it was completed, were they lived for more than a year. He remembers that living on the island had both its good and not so good of times. One thing he had to do, which he did not care for, was to take a boat everyday, rain or shine, to Eldreds Marina to catch the school bus.
Of course the best part of living on the island meant he got to go fishing all the time. On one trip, Richard recalled fishing until his johnboat couldn’t hold any more redfish. Because there were no limits back then, he was able to take them all home. You can bet that his dad made him fillet them all. It was during this time that Richard learned how to live off and appreciate the beauty of the sea. The experience made him realize that any career path he endeavored had to include being on the open water.
In 1980, Richard started working for Publix Supermarkets as a bagger. What was to be only a job, turned into a 25-year career in which he worked his way up, retiring in 2005 as a Store Manager. A transfer in 1995 from Lake Placid to Fort Myers brought Richard, his family, and his boat, to Southwest Florida. He transferred to the store on Daniels Parkway as Store Manager. In 1999, Richard was transferred to a new store on SouthPoint Blvd. After six years of managing this store, he retired from Publix to pursue his passion for the sea. In June of 2005, he became co-owner and Captain of TowBoatUS Cape Coral.
During his 25 years with Publix, Richard learned the importance of always providing excellent customer service and how no job was complete until he had satisfied all his customers’ requests. Put that drive of providing premier customer service with his love of boating and his passion for the water, you will be in no better hands for your towing needs.
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