Paul Sumner has been a member of Whiskey University since September 7, 2022.  Paul earned his Bourbon Diploma with Whiskey University on March 5, 2023 having completed Eight classes. 

Raised in Northern New Jersey it is rumored that his great-aunt Evelyn, a diehard NY Mets fan, may have slipped him his first beer, possibly a Rheingold, at a Mets game.  He was just shy of his 18th birthday.  During high school, his interest in public service began to take root. Civil Defense Radiological team and first aid training began the journey. Upon graduating high school Paul entered U.S. Coast Guard boot camp and then moved to Aviation Structural Mechanic school in Millington, TN. With school complete Paul was assigned to Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, NC. During his time in North Carolina Paul would meet his future wife, Janice Comerro of Wyckoff, NJ and begin a long-distance romance. 

            It was during Paul’s Coast Guard service he was first exposed to the joys of bourbon.  Many of his Coast Guard “buddies” were either bourbon or rum drinkers.  Of course, as a young 21-year-old Paul’s tastes required the addition of a cola to enhance the Jim or Jack that were the prevalent choices of the day.   

            Upon completion of six years Coast Guard service Paul planned to continue in commercial aviation career. Moving to the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area and a job with Eastern Airlines, he soon discovered they had landed in a community served by a Volunteer Fire Department. This ignited the needed spark to bring him to a continued career in public service hiring with Miami Beach Fire-Rescue a few years later. An amazing career as a firefighter, paramedic, and driver-engineer “I drive the big red Tonka trucks!” took Paul through 20 years of volunteer and 26 years as a career firefighter-medic.  During the career service he earned an A.S. in Fire Science and a B.A. in Public Administration. He was privileged to serve as a Logisitics Specialist on a FEMA sponsored Urban Search & Rescue Team.  A final eleven years with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, Firefighter Safety and Health program, Paul retired after 48 years of Public Service. 

By the early 2000s Makers Mark and Paul crossed paths during motorcycle travels through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula region. Immediately he applied as an Ambassador and the bourbon love began to deepen.

            After reading a Whiskey Advocate magazine article about Whiskey Societies Paul discovered that there were many in the S.E. Florida area.  Fort Lauderdale was the closest with a Palm Beach Bourbon and a Whiskey Society as well, not too much further away. Quickly, social media would begin dropping hints of Whiskey University’s Bourbon 201 at a Gastropub in North Palm Beach.  Instructor Corey Goldfarb planted the first seeds.  By the third in-person class and a second instructor, Bob Howell, the hook was set.  Online classes were the answer to quenching the need for more rapid bourbon history lessons. 

            During the journey toward his associate's degree Paul queried Corey about what color cap & gown to purchase for graduation. Corey laughed and said, “there is no formal graduation ceremony.”  Shortly after Paul received a message from Col. CRaig requesting a conversation about graduation.  Lo and behold this had been one of the Colonel’s and Board of Directors’ thoughts from the beginning of Whiskey U’s founding.  “Would you be interested in helping establish graduation ceremonies online?” April 2024 saw the first ever Associate degree and December 2024 the first Masters graduation ceremony. The monumental graphics talents of Matt Leamy steering the design and slide show heavy lifting make for a fun evening of recognition for the students.   

            Tennessee Whiskey, Bourbon Capital Region, and Mid-Atlantic Rye Whiskey, and Bluegrass region have been the majors chosen thus far. Craft and Canadian whisky are the goals ahead.  With a 30+ year background teaching in the fire science and SCUBA rescue fields, sharing bourbon whiskey’s history and stories seems a natural progression.

Paul earned his Associate degree on July 28, 2023

                        his B.S. on March 18, 2024

                        his B.A. on August 12, 2024

                        his M.S. on November, 5, 2024

                        his M.A. on February 10, 2025

            Vintage motorcycles, mustache grooming, SCUBA diving, and aviation are a small variety of favorite topics.  Motorcycle and automotive maintenance are his physical and mental health therapy sessions, keeping his mind and fingers engaged. 

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Member: McBrayer Legacy Club

Wild Turkey’s Rare Breed Society Member

Member: Band of Rebels

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