For Robert Paschal, people always came first.

He regarded the employees of Warwick Publishing (asi/95280) as his family, said his son Alex Paschal; he always took genuine interest in their lives and sought to support them in any way he could.

Alex and Robert Paschal, Warwick Publishing (asi/95280)

With his passing on Nov. 17 at age 69, after health complications from his three-plus year battle with kidney cancer, Robert Paschal leaves behind a generational legacy at the St. Charles, IL-based supplier.

Paschal was born in St. Charles in 1955. After graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder, he joined Warwick, Counselor’s 2021 Supplier Family Business of the Year, kicking off what turned into a nearly five-decade long career at the company, including several decades at the helm as co-owner and CEO. The company has been under Paschal family leadership since 1903; Robert and his brother Jim, who passed away in 2021, were the fourth generation of the Paschal family to helm Warwick Publishing.

After taking over the firm, the brothers fully transitioned the company from its roots in newspaper publishing – first as The Valley Chronicle, then as the Chronical Publishing Company – to become a full-fledged promotional products supplier with the sale of its newspaper division in 1989. With the acquisition of a few competitors over the past decades, the Paschals expanded their product selection, focusing on calendars and other paper-based items.

It was his father’s magnum opus, son Alex says.

“Dad ran with it, with my uncle, and they made magic out of it,” he adds. “And we are what we are today.”

Since he joined the Warwick Publishing team in 2020 – the fifth generation of the Paschal family to do so – Alex shared an office with his dad. He says the two of them constantly talked shop because they both had so much passion for what they did.

Alex – who currently serves as Warwick’s president – will take over full ownership of the company, as well as the CEO position, in January.

“Dad ran with it, with my uncle, and they made magic out of it – and we are what we are today.” Alex Paschal, Warwick Publishing (asi/95280)

Even though he didn’t always plan to join the family business, Alex still remembers his first exposure to the promo world: walking around the ASI Show in Chicago with his dad as a young kid, wide-eyed at all the cool merch on display – and the industry Robert had built the family business out of.

“Rob, Jim, my grandfather and his brother made a big impact, and I’m really excited to carry it forward,” Alex said. “Dad will be very sorely missed, and I love him dearly – but I know that he’s not leaving without having made an impact.”

Robert is survived by Alex, as well as several cousins and in-laws. His wife, Debbie, passed away last year.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 3, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. CT at Yurs Funeral Home, 405 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL. Donations in Paschal’s name can be made to The First Tee.