12:00 AM CST on Sunday, December 18, 2005

By JON NIELSEN / The Dallas Morning News

Paul "Hogman" Stephenson lived fast because it was the only way he knew.

He got his adrenaline rushes from his 32 years as a Dallas firefighter and racing anything with tires, including his Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Even after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 1999, Mr. Stephenson continued his work as a second driver for the fire department for two years and routinely found his way to the racetrack. In 2004, he and friend Dan Cashman drove their Porsche to a second-place finish in the Sports Car Club of America racing series.

"Paul was a passionate guy about life in general. He had the gas on all the time, no matter what he was doing. If he did something, it was going to be to the best of his ability," said Mr. Cashman.

Mr. Stephenson died Dec. 11 at his Denton home. He was 55. Services were Friday at First United Methodist Church in Denton.

Mr. Stephenson got his start racing motorcycles when he was 17, said his girlfriend, Renea Gamble of Denton. He earned dozens of accolades on the track, including winning the Western-Eastern Roadracers Association grand national championship in 1979 in the 750 Superbike expert class.

If he were able to dedicate more time and get the high-dollar sponsorships, Ms. Gamble said, he could've made a career of motorcycle racing.

"Racing was just a hobby for him," she said. "He couldn't travel around the world and race the series because he was a fireman, he had a job."

Mr. Stephenson's talent on the bike helped him make a smooth transition to automobiles in 1982, Ms. Gamble said.

"Paul had the ability to concentrate and was very smooth, which is what it takes to race cars. He learned that from the motorcycle road racing," said Mr. Cashman, who owns DC Racing and Development in Irving. "With motorcycle road racing, you're either smooth or you fall. The falling part is quite a penalty."

At a time in his life when it was OK to fall, Mr. Stephenson didn't. After he was diagnosed with cancer in 1999, he went from 230 pounds to 130. But he continued to work and race. It inspired his colleagues at Dallas Fire Station 43.

"It was his will to have him hang on," said Ed Levell of Coppell, who worked with Mr. Stephenson since 1990. "I thought if anybody could kick it he could. He tried to make light of it the best he could. I never once saw him break down or feel sorry for himself."

As a firefighter, he was always up for a good practical joke, even if it meant taking the brunt, Mr. Levell said. He was proud to have served with the fire department, said his daughter Stacie Lynn Stephenson of Mesquite.

"He wound up going to work whenever he wasn't scheduled to go to work. When people look back on my dad all they can think of is fire department and motorcycles. That was him," Ms. Stephenson said.

In addition to his daughter, Mr. Stephenson is survived by another daughter, Sheri Lynn Stephenson of Seattle, and two grandchildren.

E-mail jnielsen@dallasnews.com