Paul Zoch - Class of 1980

Paul Zoch, the eldest son of Pete and Lorene Zoch, was born in 1962 at Luther Ann Hospital in Orange. His mother was originally from Union, Mississippi, and his dad was originally from Thorndale, Texas.  After his parents married, they moved from Beaumont to Bridge City in 1961, the year before Paul was born.  Pete worked in the maintenance department at Allied Chemical in Orange, and Lorene was a registered nurse at Lutcher Ann Hospital and then at Orange Memorial Hospital.

Paul was active in the school choir at Bridge City High School and graduated in 1980.  He graduated high school as the Highest-RankingBoy magna cum laude and was voted most likely to succeed.  Paul participated in Junior Achievement receiving first place as officer of the year and was the treasurer.  He was the youth coordinator of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod for nine years coordinating senior and junior high youth gatherings beginning in 1987.  He graduated from Lamar University Summa cum laude, member of honor organizationssuch as Phi Eta Sigma, Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi. Paul was a member of Beta Alpha Psi and the LU Student Government Association. He then graduated from Lamar University in 1983 after 3 ½ years with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.  While at Lamar University he was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated as a top accountant in his class receiving the Deloitte, Haskins and Sells Outstanding Accounting Achievement Award. Paul then received his master’s degree in business administration in finance from the University of Houston. 

Paul Zoch at his Pastor ordination in 2016

Paul always felt the calling of the Lord to serve others, even though his dad encouraged him to pursue a career with a good income.  Paul then went to a seminary school in Columbus, Ohio, and worked at Costal Oil and Gas for two years in Houston then went to work as an accountant at the Children’s Museum of Houston.  With the call of God still on his heart he attended the Theological Education Ministry Program of the Lutheran Church in America in Austin, Texas for two years. Paul returned to Bridge City in 1997 and fulfilled his dream of ministry when he was ordained as a Lutheran Pastor in February 2016.  He had been serving as the lay minister of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church for 18 years prior to his ordination. During those years, the church experienced growth through new members and his leading the successful merger in 2013 between Trinity Lutheran Church, Orange, and St. Mark Lutheran, Bridge City.

Paul owns real estate he inherited from his father, maintains the Quiet Apartments, and owns the property where Hair Express Beauty Shop is located and the property on W. Roundbunch across from Bridge City Bank.  He also owns several rental homes in Bridge City, where he does all the maintenance.    His hobbies include working out and doing yard work.  Paul volunteers at the soup kitchen for Some Other Place in Beaumont is on the board of directors for the Bridge City/Orangefield Ministerial Alliance and Orange Christian Services.  He served on the committee that designed the new Bridge City Elementary School and the Bridge City Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee.  He enjoys serving his church and the community where needed. 

The Zoch children, besides Paul, the eldest, are Fred, a dentist in Bridge City, and his sister Bonnie Albright of Nederland.  He has five nieces and nephews:  Frank, Forrest Kelli Zoch, Abagail, and Emily Albright, an accountant for Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont. Fred graduated from Bridge City High School in 1982, and Bonnie in 1985.    Pete Zoch died in 2004, and his wife, Lorene, died in 2013.

Written by Charlotte Schexnider Chiasson (Class of 1970)

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