Paul R. Mico

Oct. 12, 1924 - Jan. 13, 2019

Paul R. Mico born in Dennison, Ohio October 12, 1924. He was first generation. Graduated Dennison High, June 1942. Paul’s early career began after he was drafted in World War II, and spent a few years serving in the campaigns of Europe: Normandy, Northern France, the Battle of the Bulge, and Rhineland. He was discharged December 1945 and returned to Ohio, he married and under the GI bill worked on and completed his Bachelor of Arts and a master’s degree in health and physical education from Ohio State University. He captained the 150-pound football team during 48 – 49 seasons, the only two years it was part of the Big Ten football conference. He worked in the public health service in Ohio until 1956 and brought Grade A health regulations to Tuscarawas County. He then took the position of Director for the Wyoming Department of Health Education. He took this position sight unseen because of the reputation for hunting and fishing opportunities. In Wyoming he was introduced to the Indian Health Services and was offered a scholarship to get a Master’s in Public Health at UC Berkeley. He was then hired as Field Director of the Navaho Health Education Project, a three year program stationed in Tuba City, Arizona. The primary goal of this project was to improve the delivery of health services to the Navaho.

Following his time in Arizona, he moved to Washington DC. From 1962 – 1964 he served as the Director for the Community Action Studies Project, with the National Commission on Community Health Services. He organized 22 communities to develop and demonstrate health planning methodologies. This resulted in the passage of Public Law 89-749, The Community Health Planning Act. Following this, he became the Director of Health and Social Planning, Action for Boston Community Development, and helped develop the Neighborhood Health Center, which became the model for Senator Ted Kennedy’s Neighborhood Health Center Act. He also organized ten poverty areas in Boston for the Head Start Services from 1966 to 1968.

As President of Social Dynamics, Inc. from 1966 to 1971, he organized and delivered behavioral science training programs. He developed and promoted community change programs, such as the Hawaiian Community Action Programs and the National Health Service Corps, recruiting health workers to set up and operate health centers in isolated rural communities.

In 1974 Paul began providing consultation and community planning as the President of Third Party Associates, Inc. This included providing training and consultation for several international projects primarily in South East Asia. Later in 2006, he began serving as President of InQ Educational Materials, Inc. and Styles of Thinking where he provided training materials for management training programs. Paul and his wife, Helen S. Ross authored Health Education and Behavioral Sciences and Theory and Practice in Health Education (both translated to the Chinese language). He also wrote Developing Your Community-Based Organization and, with James M. Kouzes, developed the Domain Theory to explain organizational behavior in human service organizations. This was published in The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science. He has published 40 titles in the public health field.

Paul served as the President of the Society of Public Health Education (SOPHE) in 1989. He received his Doctor of Public Administration at age 91. In his dissertation, Revisiting Domain Theory: Case Studies from San Francisco, he reviewed the validity of the original Domain Theory by carrying out new case studies of major non-profits in San Francisco. Preceded in death was his wife, Dr. Helen Ross and his daughter, Paula (Tredeau) Mico. Paul is survived by his children Roxy Mico, Frances McCurley, Mary Mico and Michael Mico; two step-daughters, Holly Sisneros and Robin Ross, as well as numerous grand, great and great great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Paul died peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends. A private Celebration of Life Service was held on January 20, 2019 and his cremains will be buried at the Hilo Veterans Cemetery in Hawaii at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to: American Indian College Fund

PO Box 172449 Denver, Co. 80217-9673