Leo Paul, I believe, was born in about 1907 in Connecticut. The reason I am not 100% sure is a 1940 Census listing for Leon Parel who lived at 727 Pine Street, Central Falls, the same address of the address listed in the articles found about Leo Paul and his boat in the Pawtucket Times. The 1940 Census date is the same year of the article in the Pawtucket Times.

So,assuming this Census listing is that of Leo Paul, Paul was married to Helen Paul and they had one son Leon(Leo) Parel(Paul) junior.

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1940 US Census

The first mention of Leo Paul is in 1924 letter telling of contacts made by local radio operators. One operator is Leo Paul whom it seens was from the Rhode Island Radio School.

Pawtucket Times May 14, 1924

Leo was a teacher at the WPA Recreational Center in Rhode Island. In 1939 we find an article on December 23, 1939 of him instructing receiving and transmitting radio waves.

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Pawtucket Times December 23, 1939

Pawtucket Times December 23, 1939

In the 1940 Radio Amateur Call book we see that Paul is call sign W1DIT.

Radio Amateur Call Book Fall, 1940

In 1940 the Pawtucket Times tells of a teacher at the WPA Recreational Center believes he can build a remote control boat. In the 1940 article the boat is to be called the Conquuror.

The craft would resemble a ocean going freighter and will be powered by an electric motor. The ship is 54 inches long, 7 inches wide and 8 inches deep. The motor will be operated by batteries and the steering conducted by electro magnets. Radio waves from a 112 megacycle short wave transmitter. The receiving set in the center of the ship will intercept the impulses and control the ship with relays.

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Pawtucket Times August 1, 1940

In 1941 the ship is put to the test in Slater Park in Pawtucket. At this point the name of the ship reported to be Shamrock.

Unfortunatly the article never actually says that the ship worked!

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Providence Journal May 4, 1941

Pawtucket Times September 19, 1941