A fullback and defensive back at Brown from 1957-59, Paul J. Choquette certainly made his mark both on and off the gridiron. Described as “burly,” and “bruising,” the 6-foot fullback was a two-time All-Ivy first team selection, an All-New England first team selection, All-East second team selection and All-America honorable mention. During his junior and senior years, Choquette ranked among the top 10 ball carriers in the nation, and he posted Brown’s career record for most rushing attempts (392) and yards gained (1,555).
His achievements earned him induction into the Brown University Athletic Hall of Fame and the Providence Gridiron Club Hall of Fame. In 2003, Brown named him one of 50 players on its 125th Anniversary Team. A versatile athlete, Choquette also starred on Bears’ track team, setting the school record for shot put.
Choquette proved himself in the classroom. A frequent honoree on the Dean’s List, he belonged to the Sphinx club, an intellectual organization, and Brown Key, a service-oriented sports organization. Choquette also received a nomination from the Brown faculty for a prestigious Rhodes scholarship. The talented scholar-athlete graduated from Brown in 1960 with a degree in English, and he went on to receive his bachelor of Laws from Harvard Law School in 1963.
Upon graduation, Choquette served as legal counsel to Rhode Island Governor John H. Chafee for two years. In 1969, he joined his family-run construction and real estate business, Gilbane, Inc. Ranked by Forbes Magazine among the largest privately held companies in the United States, Gilbane currently boasts more than 2,200 employees and annual revenues of more than $3 billion. Choquette consistently earned promotions at the company, and he eventually became chairman and sixth family member to run the enterprise since its founding in 1873. He currently serves as a vice chairman on the board.
A prominent figure in the Providence community, Choquette serves on the Board of Trustees for the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and the board of the Narragansett Council. He is the past chairman of the New England Council, past president of the Northeast Region Boy Scouts of America. Choquette is a governor of Lifespan, Inc., which oversees the four main hospitals in Rhode Island, and he has served on the board of directors of the Carlisle Companies and Fleet Financial before its acquisition by Bank of America in 2004. He continues to give back to his alma mater, serving as a trustee emeritus, among other numerous Brown committees.
In 1985, his post-graduation accomplishments earned him a prestigious NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, which recognizes distinguished individuals on the 25th anniversary of their college athletics careers. Choquette served as a board member for the National Football Foundation from 1994 until 2006, and he is a member of the NFF Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association. He received the Distinguished American Award from the NFF Rhode Island chapter in 1991.
