Paul William Newsom, 64, died Wednesday, July 1 at 4:30 a.m. at his home in Bixby, a time fitting of a true outdoorsman. Services are Tuesday, July 7 at 2 p.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church in Tulsa officiated by Dr. Larry DeLay.

Paul was born in Oklahoma City April 8, 1945 and was the only child of John Henry and LaVada Frances Newsom. He graduated from Southeast High School in Oklahoma City and attended Murray State College and Oklahoma State University. He played football in college and later with the Oklahoma City Plainsmen semi-pro football team and the Atlanta Falcons.

Paul is survived by his loving wife of 26 years, Brenda; daughter Emma Newsom of the home; son Bo Newsom and wife Twolla and granddaughter Rachel Newsom; daughter Paula Hurt and granddaughters Alyssa and Carly Hurt; daughter Dee Bowser, husband Tom and family Mike, Mary Ann & Macie Bowser; daughter Jennifer Scalzo and granddaughter Kiley; and numerous cousins.

Paul was the President of Newsom Productions, Inc, an advertising agency and television video production company that he and his wife Brenda established in 1985. Paul was a spokesman for many businesses including Mr. Rooter, Oklahoma Natural Gas, Jim Glover Dodge and Chevrolet and most recently Automax Hyundai. He also appeared in numerous TV shows and feature films including "Dallas", OETA's "Oklahoma Passage", "Dark Before Dawn", and Max Lucado's "The Christmas Child." For over 15 years, he was the host and executive producer of the award-winning "Paul Newsom's Great Outdoors" TV series. He also produced and hosted additional outdoor television and radio programs including "Hunting the Country", "Outdoor Adventure Digest", "The Camp Cook" and NRA's "American Rifleman".

Paul served on the Bixby School Board and was also a member of the Bixby Optimist Club and Bixby Chamber of Commerce. For 19 years, Paul served on the Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor's Committee for Economic Development, organizing the annual invitational turkey hunt. He also served as president of the United Sportsman's Alliance of Oklahoma, president of the Oklahoma National Wild Turkey Federation and president of the Oklahoma City Chapter of Ducks Unlimited. He was also a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, a lifetime member of the NRA, and was a former hunting guide, retriever trainer and shooting instructor.

Paul's proclamation that "God is good all the time" was evident in the way he lived his life to the fullest and fought his 2-year battle against cancer with courage and determination. He had a wonderful zest for life, living out his faith wholeheartedly, and was blessed with the riches of family and close friendships.

With his family, Paul was a faithful member of Crossroads Fellowship in Bixby. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church or the Emma Newsom Scholarship Fund at Grand Bank in Bixby.