Born in Ogallala, Nebraska. In North Platte, he was usually called "Rolfe" and in court, he was referred to as "PR." Rolfe graduated from North Platte High School in 1906. Graduated from the University of Nebraska with his law degree in 1912. After he passed the bar examination, he practiced law in North Platte, Nebraska. In July 1916, Paul served in Company E of the Fifth Nebraska National Guard Infantry, and he was elected Captain of the company. The company served on the Mexican border from 1916 through January 1917. 

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In 1917, he married Kathleen Doyle in Lincoln, and they had one daughter, Nancy Jane Halligan. Rolfe then served in World War I. After the war, he returned to practicing law in Lincoln, where he formed a partnership with his father-in-law. In July 1923,

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Rolfe's health began to fail, and he went to California to regain his health. He died unexpectedly from a heart attack at the age of 35. At the time of his death, he was a Major of the 134th Infantry.

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Obituary of Paul Rolfe Halligan, The Lincoln Star, Lincoln, Nebraska, August 4, 1923
Major Paul R. Halligan, a well-known Lincoln attorney and veteran of the World War, died Friday afternoon at the St. Joseph hospital in San Diego, California, according to word received Friday night. Mr. Halligan has been a member of the law firm of Doyle and Halligan, T.J. Doyle, Mr. Halligan's father-in-law, and senior member of the firm died last spring. Mr. Halligan left for California only a month ago in the hope of regaining his health and had intended to organize another firm on his return to Lincoln. His wife and three-year-old daughter, Nancy, were at the home of his father, John Halligan, in North Platte at the time of his death. His condition was not considered dangerous by physicians when he left Lincoln, and his death came as a distinct shock to his many Lincoln friends and relatives.

Mr. Halligan had spent five years serving his country in the Mexican disturbance and the world war. When the trouble with Mexico arose, Mr. Halligan organized a company at North Platte and went to the Mexican border. Mr. Halligan resigned as commander of the local post of the veterans of foreign wars on the first of July when he left for California. At the time of his death, he was a major in the second battalion of the National Guard. While on the Mexican border, he was elected county attorney of Lincoln County and filled that office for a short time after his return to North Platte. While in high school at North Platte, he captained the North Platte football team. When he entered the state university in 1905, he did not take up athletics because of an "athletic heart," but he was prominent in all other activities. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and received his degree from the law college in 1909.

It was immediately after his return from the Mexican border that he was married to Miss Kathleen Doyle of Lincoln. The wedding was one of the leading social events of the year. Shortly after the marriage, he began law practice with his father-in-law. The body will be taken to his old home at North Platte for funeral services and interment.