By his senior year of high school, McMullen won the Michigan state title in the mile.
[1] McMullen received a small athletic scholarship to Eastern Michigan University and ran under legendary EMU coach Bob Parks.
McMullen last broke the four-minute mile at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon at the age of 32, yet soon retired from running after failing to make the 2004 Olympic Team while representing the US Coast Guard.
McMullen had two children from his first marriage (Jill Stamison), Olivia and David, aged 19 and 14 respectively at the time of his death.
Paul is brother to Phil McMullen, a fireman paramedic in the East Bay Area of San Francisco, California, and former world class decathlete.
Before his death, McMullen worked as a Life Safety Consultant for EPS Security and competed in masters road cycling events during the summer.