Bipeds of Brookland: Paul Artisst

Bipeds of Brookland: Paul Artisst

Paul Artisst was born in DC and recounts sitting on a bush to watch Franklin Roosevelt’s Inauguration parade, being an official at Mike Tyson’s last fight, and many details from an extraordinary life in between.  Born in DC, he grew up in the segregated city suffering through the Great Depression.  His parents worked hard to support their family, always sharing with their neighbors and stressing the importance of education. He remembers wandering around downtown near the White House and swimming in the reflecting pool by the Lincoln Memorial and in the Tidal Basin. “It was enjoyable to be down there, and across the Tidal Basin, where the Jefferson memorial is now, that wasn’t there then.”

After being drafted and serving two years in Alaska, where he maintained runways and watched early jets take off, Mr. Artisst returned and attended the recently integrated DC Teachers College with funding from the GI bill.  He was told to become an elementary teacher. “They wanted men in elementary school.  They put me in an elementary school and the principal immediately gave me a special ed class and put me in the basement.” After a few years his principal needed help and asked Mr. Artisst to work as the Assistant Principal while still being paid a teacher salary.  He later became Principal of Bowen Elementary school.  He retired from DC schools at an early age, but soon found he didn’t have enough to do, so he took a job teaching in Riverdale, MD, for 7 more years.

Mr. Artisst had officiated amateur boxing in his free time, but after retirement he joined the board of the International Boxing Federation and flew all around the world to officiate professional boxing matches, including Mike Tyson’s last match, which was here in DC.

Mr. Artisst moved to Brookland in 1966, and the area across from his house was still woods. “I’ve seen a lot of changes… One of the fine things about Brookland is the open spaces and the Monastery.” 

Bipeds of Brookland is a weekly series introducing the people who make Brookland their home, one step at a time. Article and photo by Tom Sabella