A graduate of Middletown High School, Paul Stroup was an outstanding four-year athlete in soccer, basketball, and baseball. He received an athletic scholarship for basketball and baseball to George Washington University. After a successful collegiate baseball career, Stroup signed a four-year contract with the Boston Braves. After one year, however, he was drafted for military service. Retiring as a captain, Stroup entered the Frederick County Public Schools as a teacher and then advanced through the system as a counselor, associate principal, and principal. As a principal who believed in the value of athletics, Stroup nurtured athletes and coached, and developed strong athletic programs that became an integral part of his school. This positive role made him an outstanding advocate for Frederick County youth programs.