Paul Willson joined the newly chartered, as of 1996, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Monroe Area as a board member in May 2001. The organization’s founding fathers were not wrong in recognizing Mr. Willson as an asset for the organization due to his positive reputation as a community leader and local business owner. For the past 22 years, Paul Willson has used his magnetic personality and ability to network for the benefit of the youth in Monroe County, Tennessee, and today he is an advocate for youth across Southeast Tennessee. Having served as the Chief Volunteer Officer from 2013 to 2017, then serving as Vice President and Secretary of the Board of Directors from 2017 to 2021, his vision and leadership helped grow the Monroe organization into six site locations before helping navigate the strategic alliance with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Ocoee Region, growing his organization’s reach to 14 site locations serving four counties in Tennessee. This has been a very beneficial move for both organizations as it enabled them to provide more for the youth of their region.

     Paul Willson graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1973 with a degree in Forestry. Soon after receiving his MBA, Mr. Willson was appointed leader of his family’s establishment, Citizen National Bank, which strongly supported the Boys & Girls Club with free banking and annual donations. Paul’s engagement as a board leader has afforded the organization community support during times of financial need. His lighthearted spirit, charm, and stage presence have served as great additions during the Boys & Girls Club’s fundraisers and auctions. Mr. Willson’s involvement as a board member of the Monroe Chamber, Past President of the East Tennessee Foundation, the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, the Charles Hall Museum, the Cleveland State Foundation, and Executive in Residence at Tennessee Wesleyan University, has helped keep the Boys & Girls Club connected to the community. His outreach to help others has made a significant impact across the state of Tennessee and beyond.  

     Paul’s wisdom has helped position the Boys & Girls Club for success. In 2016, Paul started discussions concerning a strategic alliance with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Ocoee Region because he believed this was the best situation to strengthen their organization and reach. Paul Willson and Todd Farrell, Chief Volunteer Officer during the time of the merger, worked together knowing that this new partnership would strengthen our leadership, bring the counties together, and broaden the reach of youth. Due to his banking background, Paul has always had the goal to build a Boys & Girls Club organization with sound financial stability in order to be able to provide the best program possible for youth.   

      Paul is a straightforward, upfront, and outspoken leader who firmly believes that the Boys & Girls Club should be available to all youth no matter what. Paul isn’t afraid to push our mission among other community leaders to receive financial and programmatic support to fulfill our purpose and mission better. Paul does not like recognition, so it is difficult to comprehend his reach fully. He has often funded events, purchased items, and even provided financial assistance to open a Boys & Girls Club outside the Monroe area in a community where a Club was greatly needed. Paul has remained a constant presence in our Clubs for the past 20 years. Because of this, he knows the needs before he is even asked for assistance. Paul has always put the mission of the Boys & Girls Club at the center of his service, especially when it is time to raise funds. During the Annual Monroe County Auction, he has led the way in bringing in private donations, sponsors, and significant items to be auctioned off each year.

     Paul is an encourager of others and yet expects the best out of those working on behalf of the Boys & Girls Club. Because of that, Paul Willson’s name will forever be associated with Boys & Girls Clubs and his impact will be known for generations.