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When hardly anyone could lay a glove on a young Cassius Clay — better known as Muhammad Ali — Paul G. Sullivan Sr. came close to knocking out the former heavyweight champ.

As chairman of the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission, Mr. Sullivan let the famed fighter from Louisville, Ky., have it after one of his famous predictions, according to his daughter, Mary Beth Poremski.

"Clay was mouthing off, saying something like he was going to take someone down in the third round," Poremski said. "Dad heard the comments. He got in Clay's face, and told him if he ever talked like that again, he'll never fight in Pennsylvania. He was never intimidated or impressed by people in high places."

Paul Sullivan Sr., formerly of Shadyside, died Wednesday of heart failure. He was 98.

Poremski said her father lived a productive life. He served as a captain in the Navy during World War II; helped start the Gaelic Arts Society of Pittsburgh and The Irish Centre. He served as a member of The University Catholic Club, The Concert Society and served as chairman of the city's zoning board and was a member of the planning commission. Gov. David L. Lawrence appointed Mr. Sullivan as chairman of the state Athletic Commission.

Poremski described her father as a modern-day Renaissance man. Mr. Sullivan was an athlete and scholar. He was a tennis star through high school and college and he spoke Latin and Greek. He also was an attorney by day and a sportswriter by night.

"He lived 10 lives in one lifetime," Poremski said. "He was outstanding in everything he did."

Mr. Sullivan, who grew up on Millvale Avenue in Pittsburgh, attended Duquesne Prep High School and went on to graduate from Duquesne University, completing his bachelor's, master's and law degrees there. As a student, he was the captain of the tennis team and later went on to coach for many years. Mr. Sullivan taught classes at the prep school and law school and eventually went on to serve as president of the Alumni Association and Century Club.

As a student at Duquesne, Mr. Sullivan started writing for the Pittsburgh Gazette Times. Mr. Sullivan covered mainly tennis and hockey. After he got married to Virginia, he would surprise his wife by bringing home players from the old Pittsburgh Hornets and the Ice Capades to dinner. Poremski said her father wrote because he loved it and became a lawyer to support his family.

"He would set his legal papers down and then go cover a sporting event. He would come home, type the story and race to try to make the deadline," Poremski said. "My dad never drove. So, my mom would have to get us all in the car and take us down to the paper around midnight or one."

Although Mr. Sullivan had various interests, his passion was his faith. An Irishman, Mr. Sullivan was a devoted Catholic. Poremski stated that "If Ireland had his heart, Catholicism had his soul." Mr. Sullivan was a lifelong member of St. Paul's Cathedral in Oakland.

"His No. 1 passion was his faith," Poremski said. "That was above all other things. He went to Mass every day without fail. When we went on vacation, he would find the church before looking for a hotel. And then he would go to Mass, regardless if the church was 20 miles away."

Mr. Sullivan also was a devoted husband and father.

"My brother and sisters all feel blessed to have a father of his caliber," Poremski said. "He was the most moral man and honest man that I knew. He's up there with the saints in my eyes."

Mr. Sullivan is survived by his wife, Virginia, son, Paul Sullivan Jr. of Annandale, Va.; and daughters, Mary Beth Poremski of Brookline; Virginia Berger of Baldwin; and Kathleen Nolan of Kennedy Township.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today at John A Freyvogel Sons Inc. at 4900 Centre Ave. at Devonshire Street in Oakland. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday in St. Paul Cathedral.

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