Eureka College mourns the passing of Paul Lister, former director of the Ronald Reagan Leadership Program and Interim President
Eureka College thanks Michael Toliver and the Lister family for providing this information to allow us to honor the life of former President Lister.
Paul Lister, former director of the Ronald Reagan Leadership Program and Interim President of Eureka College, passed away 30 January 2026 at Carle Hospital in Normal. Paul was born in El Paso, Texas, in 1941. He attended New Mexico State University, earning a B.S. in Mathematics in 1963. He married the love of his life, Martha, in 1960.
Paul Lister served in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1971, doing 3 tours in Viet Nam. For his actions there, he was awarded the Silver Star, the 3rd highest medal for heroism awarded by the United States. When he returned from Viet Nam he continued in the Army Reserve. He pursued further education, earning an M.S. in social work from the University of Hawaii in 1974 and an M.B.A. from the same institution in 1981. He retired from the Army in 1995 with the rank of Major General. On his retirement, he was Deputy Commander, U. S. Army Pacific Command. After active duty, he co-owned and managed a furniture retail and design business on Maui, worked in medical administration as Vice President of Ancillary Services at Queen’s Medical Center, and later became president and CEO of the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce. He joined Eureka College in 1996 as director of the Ronald W. Reagan Leadership Program and taught in the business department, eventually serving as interim president from September 2003 to June 2005. He retired from Eureka College in 2013 and shortly thereafter moved to Hawaii. The Listers returned to the lower 48 to Texas to be close to Martha’s sister. Martha, who survives, was also an important part of the Eureka College family, serving in Admissions and the Learning Center.
Funeral plans are not finalized, but the family expects internment at the National Memorial Cemetery in Hawaii.
