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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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People File • Polio Survivor

Paul Alexander

Paul Richard Alexander (January 30, 1946 – March 11, 2024) was an American polio survivor, attorney, and author.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Paul Alexander was an American polio survivor who lived nearly 72 years in an iron lung. He later became an attorney and author, drawing attention to disability and polio survival.

Polio and iron lung survival

Paul Alexander contracted polio in 1952 at age six, leaving him paralysed from the neck down. He depended on an iron lung to breathe and spent the longest-known period in one, nearly 72 years.

Despite his condition, Alexander completed high school, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1978, and a Juris Doctor from Texas Law in 1984. He was admitted to the bar in 1986 and practised as an attorney in Texas.

Death and legacy

Alexander died in Dallas on March 11, 2024, at age 78. His life was widely covered as a symbol of polio survival and the importance of disability access, and he wrote an autobiography documenting his experiences.

In short

  • Contracted polio at age six, paralysed from neck down
  • Used iron lung for nearly 72 years, a record
  • Earned a bachelor's and law degree, practised as attorney
  • Died in 2024 at age 78

Quick questions

Who is Paul Alexander?
Paul Alexander was an American polio survivor, attorney, and author who was widely known for spending most of his life in an iron lung.
How long did Paul Alexander live in an iron lung?
He spent nearly 72 years in an iron lung, which is described as the longest known period anyone has lived in one.
When did Paul Alexander die?
He died on March 11, 2024, in Dallas, Texas.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Alexander_(polio_survivor)
    Supports: Birth and death dates, polio in 1952 at age six, iron lung use, education, and legal career.
  2. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/health-68627630
    Supports: Reported that Alexander used an iron lung for more than seven decades and completed school and college.
  3. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68555051
    Supports: Reported his death at age 78 and summarized his polio history and legal career.
  4. Texas Law News — https://law.utexas.edu/news/2024/03/27/in-memoriam-paul-alexander-84/
    Supports: Confirmed his undergraduate degree, law degree, and death in Dallas on March 11, 2024.
  5. NPR — https://www.npr.org/2024/03/13/1238251518/iron-lung-polio-paul-alexander
    Supports: Reported that polio struck him at age six, that he used an iron lung for more than 70 years, and that he attended college and law school.