"Sergeant First Class Paul Bigness, joined the marines in 1997 and since then performed more than 20 years of exceptional military service at home and abroad. Sergeant Bigness was called to duty after the days following the September 11, 2001 attacks, and was sent to Iraq. Following Iraq, Sergeant Bigness was transferred to the headquarters of the New York Army National Guard, 42nd Infantry Division in Troy, where he has worked since, having been promoted and honored with multiple awards. Sergeant Bigness has worked to redesign, build and control the Division’s command post, and his concepts have been recognized and are being adopted across Army Divisions. Sergeant Bigness has earned more awards than we can list, but they include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal.

We, in East Greenbush remember Sergeant Bigness on the basketball court, as he was a member of the 1995 Blue Devils Basketball team, still remembered as one of our best teams. His teammates remember him as a player whose confidence and grit propelled them from a team that was 8-13 the year before to one that ended the season 20-4. Sergeant Bigness, or Paully, to his teammates, has spent his life leading teams, leading his peers, and through determination and tenacity, served our community and our nation.

The East Greenbush Education Foundation is proud to recognize Paul Bigness as he enters our hall of fame.