Paul Gaines

Paul Gaines received his Bachelors Degree in Speech Communications and his Masters of Education in Counseling from the now University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Ok. Paul also completed course work toward his Ed.D. in Adult Education at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK. Paul began his career in Vocational Rehabilitation with the State VR Agency in Oklahoma City, OK. He served as a Client Evaluator and Job Placement Counselor at the Evaluation Center in Oklahoma City. He served as Field Counselor and office supervisor at University Hospital and also worked with the Drug & Alcohol Treatment Center at VA Hospital.

In 1972 Paul Gaines accepted the challenge to join the Faculty at Oklahoma State University's Rehabilitation Counselor Education Program coordinated by Dr. Clayton A. Morgan to direct a fledgling project called the Oklahoma Clearinghouse of Training Resources, now known as the National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials. This professional change from the Oklahoma Rehabilitation Agency to academia had a long term impact on both Paul and the Clearinghouse operation. Paul's broad range of experience with disabilities gave him the needed knowledge to direct the Information Center at the Clearinghouse for Educators and Agency Professionals.

Paul Gaines directed the Clearinghouse for twenty four years along with teaching courses in Placement and Job Development, Rehabilitation Counseling, and Psychosocial Aspects of Disability. Paul was Project Director in the Department of Education Research at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK. and is tenured in the School of Applied Behavior Science.

Gaines has been a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, and held membership in the National Council on Rehabilitation Education and National Rehabilitation Association. In 1974 he received the Service Award from Administrative Supervisory Practice Division of NRA. In 1992 Paul Gaines received the College of Education Distinguished Service award, and the Special Presidential Award from NCRE in 1996.

Since his retirement in 1996, Paul and his wife of 53 years, Irmajean, live their retirement years in Bella Vista, AR. They have been blessed with two married daughters, two grandchildren, and one great granddaughter.

Paul has enjoyed a couple of new careers after moving to NW Arkansas. He was "People Greeter" at the front door of Wal-Mart Corporate Office in Bentonville, AR for 5 years and collected 7 vests full of unique pins from suppliers and vendors from all over the world. He also was head "Skipper" for pontoon boat rides for the Cooper Community Timeshares in Bella Vista, AR. Since his second retirement in 2005, he and his wife have done some extensive traveling together.