FOLEY — The city of Foley lost an influential centenarian with the peaceful passing of Paul Frederick Schultz Sr. on Mother’s Day.

Schultz had been a resident Foley since his family rode a boxcar to the city in 1921. From there, he would go on to be a leader in the community by serving on the Baldwin County Department of Human Resources board, the Baldwin Mutual Insurance board, the Riviera Utilities board and the Foley Schools Board of Trustees.

Schultz’s hand in the South Baldwin sports scene was evident, as e coached one of the first baseball teams in Foley, the Villagers of Pine Village and was a charter member of the Gulf Shores Golf Club.

“He loved his golf,” Foley Mayor John Koniar said, adding that Schultz’s affection extended to his golf balls. “Whenever we used to play golf together, he was always finding the golf balls he lost.”

That enthusiasm reached into Schultz’s support of the various aspects of education, as he served on the Foley Schools Board of Trustees, worked with the Parent-Teacher Association to establish the first concession stand at football games and founded the Foley High Alumni Association.

“You can’t say too much about his part in the development of Foley,” said Arthur Holk, former Foley mayor.

Schultz had also been an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Foley, which his family joined shortly after moving to Foley 92 years ago. While there, he held a variety of positions, including adult Bible class teacher, elder and officer in the Lutheran Layman’s League.

Those contributions gained notice for the the World War II veteran and widowed father of two, who was honored for his contributions in 1993 when the Foley Rotary Club deemed him Citizen of the Year. Schultz was also named to the Foley High School Hall of Fame.

According to Arthur Holk, former Foley mayor, Schultz’s loss will be felt.

“He was a classic individual,” he said. “Although he was a hundred years old, he still had some bright ideas.”

Holk added that Schultz will also be missed by many on a personal level.

“That man didn’t have any enemies,” he said, “nothing but friends.”

That included a four-decade bond with Koniar.

“Pault Schultz and his wife, Edna, were among the first people me met when we moved here in the ‘70s,” Koniar said. “I always thought so much of he and his wife.”

The residing mayor said Schultz also had enjoyed working with flowers.

“He had a great knack for gardening,” Koniar said, “beautiful camellias.”

But Schultz had not been able to garden lately, as he most recently resided at Robertsdale Healthcare, where he was honored with a birthday party earlier this year.

“He just turned 100 in February,” Koniar said, adding that Schultz’s health seemed to be failing upon his visit at that time.

With Schultz’s peaceful passing, he leaves behind a legacy.

“Paul was one of the finest community leaders this city has ever had,” Holk said.