"He passed away suddenly in August of 2018 from a brain infection. When I heard the news that friend and OKCR supporter, Pat Smith of Pat's Tire and Auto Repair, had died, I felt like I had been robbed. None of us who benefitted from Pat were ready to let go. A few weeks ago, Julie, Pat's wife, and their daughter, Erin took the time to remember Pat and share some memories with me. As we talked, I thought what great timing that our meeting was in December because as I listened, it occured to me that Pat's name should have been Joe.
 
Pat was a successful businessman with four automotive repair shops, and he advertised on Oklahoma Catholic Radio.
"He loved his work," Julie told me. "When people asked him what he did, he would say, I fix cars."
"His office desk at the downtown store - it faced the counter. He wanted to be able to see the customers," Erin chimed in; "he was truly interested in people."
 
I think that is why I enjoyed calling on Pat for Catholic radio support so much. He was down-to-earth and approachable. He was always ready with whatever we needed for a radiothon from an incentive to a donation to an interview. It wasn't all business either. Pat sprinkled our conversations with updates on his five daughters ( close in age to my own daughters ), trials and errors in running ( herbs from Sprout's for achey knees ), and the travels Julie and the girls took every year ( They made it a goal to visit all fifty states.).
 
"He was humble,"Julie remarked. "He loved helping people no matter who they were. He would give homeless people near the shop work they could do and were willing to do. He also valued education in all areas. He paid for employees to take the  Dave Ramsey course on financial peace so they could learn to budget their money. Until his death, none of us realized how many people he helped."
 
I mentioned his car maintenance videos on YouTube.  Erin laughed. "That was really important to him. He took care of all of our cars. And when we got them back, all the radios were programmed to Oklahoma Catholic Radio!"
 
During one radiothon interview, Pat divulged to listeners that he was not always a fan of Mother Angelica. "At first, she really annoyed me when I would hear her. After a while though, I thought this woman really makes a lot of sense!" Erin nodded her head. " My Dad LOVED Mother Angelica. "
 
Then there were the "Dad-isms" Erin explained. "None of us like to get up early. Dad would say, "If you want more sleep, you know what you have to do... go to bed earlier!"
"Vitamin C was his cure-all, "even for employees," Julie added, not quite, but  almost rolling her eyes.
 
Julie grew serious as she tried to sum up Pat. "His faith meant everything to him. He wanted to do the right thing. He believed in good, quality, honest work. He would say, "I have a wife and five daughters. How would I want people to treat them?"
 
I could not think of a better tribute from Oklahoma Catholic Radio to Pat. The anecdotes and memories profile a man who was all about doing the right thing, living his faith in ordinary ways. He was a lot like St. Joseph, that "regular Joe" whose role in life was humble obedience in being a part of a plan for all of humanity that was much bigger than himself. Pat's life reminds the Oklahoma Catholic Radio family that all of us have parts to play in God's plan, made just for us."