[4] He became a real estate broker and general insurance agent in 1958 and co-founded the Peninsula Bank of Commerce in 1981.

[4] Papan served as Speaker Pro Tempore from 1974 to 1976, and chaired the powerful Assembly Rules Committee from 1976 to 1986.

[4] Instead of seeking reelection to an eighth term in the Assembly in 1986, Papan ran for the 8th State Senate District seat but was defeated by independent candidate Quentin L. Kopp.

[4] In 2006, Papan again ran for the State Senate in the 8th District - but came in third place in the Democratic primary, losing to Leland Yee.

[12][13] Papan was nicknamed "Leadfoot Lou" for his fast commutes between Sacramento and his Peninsula home, trips that brought him a good share of speeding tickets.

Few people knew he raced home to be with his son John, who suffered from a rare congenital condition that eventually ended his life at age 21 in 1981.