He was born July 10, 1925, in Mineola, Tex., the son of Edgar Phillips and Violette (Schaub) Paris. He moved with his family to San Francisco during the Depression. He graduated from George Washington High School, San Francisco, in 1943. He then joined the Navy as a radioman.

After his service with the Navy, Col. Paris attended officer candidate school, and in 1949, he was commissioned as second lieutenant in the Army. He retired from military service in 1967. In 1986, at a special ceremony in Columbia, Sen. Strom Thurmond presented him with the Purple Heart for injuries sustained during World War II.

Col. Paris earned a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University in 1957 and a master’s degree from Kansas University in 1965. He was a professor of military science and tactics at Kansas University ROTC program from 1960 to 1965.

He married Barbara M. Paris. They were divorced.

Survivors include a daughter, Deborah P. Morgan, Columbia; two sons, Craig P., Edwardsville, Ill., and Scott P., Juneau, Alaska; a sister, Jesse Maier, San Andreas, Calif.; and five grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials to American Cancer Society, sent in care of Dunbar Funeral Home, 3926 Devine St., Columbia, S.C. 29205.