Patrick Cates

Patrick was born on June 25, 1953, the son of T.R. and Wanda Cates. He was their fourth child, the baby, and his mother called him Lambkin. He grew up in the small town of Thalia, west of Wichita Falls and Vernon. His maternal grandparents lived next door and his paternal grandparents lived not far away. He loved going on excursions with his colorful Aunt Maggie Capps who taught him all about native plants and animals and fostered his love for learning. She and her friend Knoxie would take Patrick and his sister Terri on trips to nearby towns that would take all day for a 30-mile drive. He and all his cousins loved to hear Maggie’s stories. As a boy he enjoyed playing baseball and was a New York Yankees fan. He liked to sing and took piano lessons. He also participated in 4-H competitions. He was always fascinated by NASA and the astronauts and was a devoted Trekkie. When the Thalia school closed, he had to ride the bus to Crowell for classes. His path was academic, not athletic, and he was involved in many activities such as student council, choir, and the One Act Play. He was Salutatorian of his graduating class.

Growing up in a small farming and ranching community, Patrick knew that this life did not suit him. Driving the tractor in the hot sun, helping round up calves for castration and branding, and selling watermelons beside the highway was not what he saw as his future. He attended Texas Tech as a radio and television major. He was active in theater and made lifelong friends. He worked with his friend Trey Autry in the admitting department at Methodist Hospital during their college years. After graduating, he was encouraged by a former teacher to get his teaching certificate. In the first days of his student teaching, his supervising teacher had an accident, and he had to take over her responsibilities so baptism by fire. His first job was at Lubbock High School teaching drama and English in 1976. He met his wife Deb there in the spring of 1977 when her classroom was across the hall. They married in the spring of 1978, and their son Christopher was born in 1980.

Patrick was an exceptional teacher who loved being in the classroom. He was a skillful director, putting on productions with his many talented theater students. When the LEAP (Lubbock Exemplary Academic Program) was implemented, he taught sophomore and senior English. He brought Ray Bradbury to the Lubbock Arts Festival and Chaim Potok to LHS to speak to his students. His love of literature, especially Shakespeare, and skill in writing was passed on to his students. In 1989 he received an NEH grant to study Hamlet, his favorite Shakespeare play, at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. He, his wife, and son drove to Maine and stayed six weeks, enjoying the charms of New England. He was a classroom teacher for seventeen years until other colleagues encouraged him to go into administration. He got his master’s degree in administration and became an assistant principal, associate principal, and ultimately principal of Lubbock High School. On his first memorable day as principal and his son’s first day as a sophomore at Lubbock High, a minor explosion in the chemistry lab had the Hazmat team on campus. No one was injured and students got to go to an early lunch. In 1999 he presented his son Christopher with his diploma. In 2000, he was chosen as the Texas Secondary Principal of the Year and represented Texas in Washington, D.C., where he met President Bill Clinton and Vice-President Al Gore and many other outstanding principals.

In the fall of 2000, he became principal of Westwood High School, part of the Round Rock school district. In 2002 he was recruited to be principal of Highland Park High School in Dallas where he served until his retirement in 2010. As a principal, he knew the importance of connecting with students, faculty, staff, and colleagues. He was present in the hallways and at most sporting and academic events, and his door was always open.

Patrick and Deb enjoyed traveling. On a trip to England, they visited the Globe Theatre and at Stratford-Upon-Avon, Patrick had his photo taken at Shakespeare’s home and his grave and saw the Royal Shakespeare’s production of Hamlet. When he retired, the first trip was to New England in October to see the fall colors. They took several trips to visit their daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren in Germany and Italy when their son-in-law was stationed there. They took cruises and many excursions in Europe with them. Being a huge arts fan, New York was a favorite destination for museums, Broadway productions, and Central Park. Patrick made a few trips to the Cloisters to see the Unicorn Tapestries.

Patrick suffered several medical problems after his retirement. Being the humble person he was, he did not let people know and he faced his adversities with grace and optimism. He was blessed to have the finest doctors in Dallas and to be treated at UT Southwestern Clements University Hospital. He succumbed to cancer at Faith Presbyterian Hospice on July 17, 2023, surrounded by loving family and friends.

Patrick was preceded in death by his parents Wanda and T.R. Cates, sisters Retta Messick and Terri Cates, and brother Michael Cates. He is survived by his wife Deb and son Christopher of Dallas; daughter Cynthia Guzman Gonzales, son-in-law David Gonzales, granddaughter Vanessa and grandson Benjamin of Pasadena, MD; uncle Coleman Self and wife Rita of Amarillo; sister-in-law Bronna Cathey of Denison; brother-in-law Charles Robinson and wife Susan; brother-in-law Ron Robinson and wife Darla; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2pm Saturday, August 12, at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas, TX 75225.

In lieu of flowers and plants to honor Patrick, please send a contribution to his favorite charity, Smile Train at https://donate.smiletrain.org. or to contribute to a memorial bench and plaque at Lubbock High School, send a check to Lubbock High School, Attn: Doug Young, and in the memo line, write Patrick Cates Memorial. You may also Venmo Deborah-Cates-3 to contribute to the bench.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Cates family.