When I joined the coaching staff at Duncanville, Patrick was on the JV team as a junior. He is always the first one there and the last one to leave. Patrick is a great teammate and friend to our entire team on and off the field and he was best known as the kid who tried to knock the snot out of the Varsity players during Wednesday scrimmages. At 6’1 and 170lbs playing LB/DE in a very tough Texas 5A Division, he knew he had his job cut out for him if he wanted to contribute at the varsity level. He worked very hard to increase his speed and put on playing weight (up to 185) and earned a spot on special teams. He thought he was on track to reach his dream – a football letter jacket.

We had a parents meeting the night before fall practices started and Patrick pulled me aside with tears in his eyes. He informed me that he had tested positive for Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cancer) and would begin radiation within the next two weeks. Starting the second day of classes, he had a treatment right after school almost every day for 5 weeks.

All through this time, he would show up at 6:45 for weight workout without fail even though the radiation was eating him up. Many days he was so weak we had to sit him down. And every afternoon he dashed back to practice, doing his best to make a contribution.

Other kids were struggling to make it on time and soon changed their ways watching an extraordinary young man fight not only for his life but to remain a part of something he so dearly loved; HIS TEAM. He never missed a practice or game even when his radiation treatments were held minutes before start time. With all of this going on Patrick also excelled academically. In his sophomore and junior years he received a second place award in the National Skills USA Competition for principle of technology, earned academic letters as an outstanding student in four subjects, and ranked #9 in his class with a 3.96GPA. During this time of fighting cancer, he was selected as a National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist, kept his grades up to his usual standards, and was nominated for Academic All-State in football.

He is a Leader in Training at Faith Bible Church in Desoto and is part of FCA. He did all this with cancer and never complained, missed practice or school or had a frown on his face. I have recently become a first time father and think of Patrick when I am tired of all the responsibilities that come along with being a parent. We use Patrick as an example to our student body for what perseverance, passion, courage and faith can do for you. Cancer brought Patrick’s personal dream to an abrupt halt, but it didn’t stop him from giving his all to help HIS TEAM be a winner. I can't think of a more deserving recipient of the RUDY AWARD!