Interviewee

Paul Zacour

Interviewer

Arlina Palacios

Project

Paso del Norte Entrepreneur’s Oral History Project

Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee

Paul Zacour was born in Damascus, Syria in 1960. He was adopted by two Arab-American parents. His father, George Zacour was a pharmacist in El Paso and his wife was an educator. Paul attended Mesita Elementary, and he received his Bachelor degree in Business with a major in real estate and marketing from The University of Texas at El Paso. Paul is married and has three daughters. Paul is the owner of Zacour and Associates, a real estate appraisal company.

Summary of Interview

Paul Zacour took real estate classes and began to sell real estate when he was 19 years old. After graduating from The University of Texas at El Paso in 1986, Paul moved to Austin, Texas to be a part of the real estate market boom. In 1992, Paul moved back to El Paso, Texas. He began to work with Fred McKinstry doing appraisals together. The name of the company then became McKinstry-Zacour and Associates. When the opportunity to buy the company arose, Paul took it and Fred McKinstry semi-retired. The company then morphed into Zacour and Associates. Paul’s company works in real estate and commercial appraisals. Paul is a member of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Building and Standards Commision and has been a member of REDCo and Future 15. In addition Paul supports UTEP Athletics as well as the UTEP Business School. He has been involved in government contracts in the city as well as doing work with the Empowerment Zone and Project Vida. Zacour and Associates is licensed in both Texas and New Mexico. Paul’s advice to people seeking entrepreneurship is to just do it, don’t be afraid, start as young as you can and learn from the process of just getting involved.

Date of Interview

7-8-2010

Tape Number

No. 1485

Transcript Number

No. 1485

Length of Transcript

26 pages

Transcriber

GMR Transcription Services

Interview Number

No. 1485

Terms of Use

Unrestricted

Included in

Oral History Commons

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