Paul Pearson - Inducted 2006

From Bethesda, Maryland, Paul “The Animal” Pearson was a photographer who went from taking pictures of cycling friends, to training with them, becoming a fierce competitor who could race with the best on both the road and the track. He was Maryland State Track Champion three times in the late 1970’s, 1979 Tour De Moore Champion in North Carolina and Eastern Regional “Best All-Round” champion in 1980. “The Animal” turned pro in 1981. That same year, he was third in the Tasmanian 6-day event and in 1984 was a member of the PRO team for the Tour of America. In 1984, he won the Keystone Open In Philadelphia, in 1985 the Winston Salem criterium, in 1987 the Tour of Somerville. After retiring he went on to become the 1990 and 1991 Master’s Point Race Champion and 1991 Master’s Madison Champion. Also notable, Pearson made the Top 10 in the Rider of the Year competition every year from 1978 through 1987, ranking as high as second on several occasions.