Town to honor longtime ZBA Chairman Paul Carroll

Canton attorney and longtime Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman Paul B. Carroll will be honored Thursday, December 1, when the Board of Selectmen dedicates a room at Town Hall in recognition of his service to the town. Carroll has spent a combined 50 years as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Canton Public Library and as a member and chairman of the ZBA. He attributes his dedication to civic work to his love for his hometown and to the example his father set for him.

Paul Carroll

Carroll was born and raised in Canton and attended St. John the Evangelist School, which he remembered as a large and thriving elementary school with 80-100 students in each of the eight grades. After graduating from Canton High School in 1958, he received degrees from Stonehill College and Boston University School of Law. He began his career as a public defender in Boston, while opening a law office in Canton and working with clients as often as he could. In 1972, he made Canton his home base for his work as an attorney.

He can trace his interest in studying law back to his early years. “My father was an attorney,” Carroll said. “I think that influenced me. I’ve always thought about (law).”

He said that his father, Francis J. Carroll, is the only person he knows of who attended law school without graduating from high school and college. “In those days they let you take tests,” Carroll said.

Francis J. Carroll paid for his education with his own money, since his mother did not have the money, and he earned his law degree by attending night school. “He’s kind of my hero,” his son said.

When Carroll decided to follow in his father’s footsteps, he was among many young people who decided to make the law their career. “It was very popular in those days,” he said. “A lot of the parents in the ’50s worked very hard to get their kids to law school.”

Carroll spent his life in Canton, staying close to what he called his roots. “I’ve always loved it,” he said. “I had no reason to leave.”

He said that he was also interested in making a positive impact in the lives of local people through a means other than his profession.

“I think it’s important, especially for a local attorney, to get involved with this town,” he explained. “I have a strong interest in town business. It’s very natural for a lawyer to get involved with local politics.”

In addition to his work on local town boards, Carroll has served as the chairman of the Heart Association and has worked with other charities. He is a member of the board of trustees of the James and Beatrice Salah Family Foundation for the town of Canton. The Salah Foundation has earmarked money for scholarships, which the trustees award to qualifying Canton High School or Blue Hills Regional Technical School seniors who reside in Canton. Carroll estimated that over $100,000 is awarded each year from the Salah Foundation to incoming college freshmen as well as to local students already in college.

Carroll was both surprised and humbled when selectmen Bob Burr and John Connolly told him that a room was being named for him.

“Well, I don’t deserve it,” he said. “I could name 10 other people in town who deserve it. I’m just absolutely overwhelmed. It’s very, very gracious on the part of the selectmen.”

He added that the selectmen had anticipated his sentiments and arranged for the honor before speaking with him.

Carroll plans to continue practicing law and serving the town. The ceremony recognizing his contributions to Canton will begin at 6 p.m. on December 1.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=34866

Posted by Mary Ann Price on Nov 25 2016. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.