Patrick Henry Beckham

Patrick Henry (Pat) Beckham was born September 19, 1936, “in the country” between Tyler and Athens, Texas, and died peacefully in his sleep April 14, 2017. He graduated from Athens High in '55 and Texas Christian University, BA '59, thanks to a four-year athletic scholarship, and will be remembered. At TCU he was Editor-in-Chief of “The Skiff” and in '58-'59 was one of four Student Representatives for the Horned Frogs Cotton Bowl hosts. He wed his Associate Editor of Student Publications at TCU, Gail Rogstad Beckham, in 1957. Married 30 years, Pat and Gail had four children before her death at age 50. Brad, his wife Jill, and their son Johnathan, Andrea, her husband John, and Greg, and his daughters Georgia Gail and Elle, survive sister Michele. Pat had three older siblings, Christine, Jake, and Mary Lou, and was a beloved uncle to Philippa, Becky, John, Mark, Cheri, and Sharla Diane. His mother, Clara, never remarried after Pat's father, Ernest, died in 1944. She died at age 96 in 1996, and is buried in New Hope. Pat had 44 years of perfect attendance in WFW Rotary and was President in '84-'85, receiving the Rotary International Presidential Citation that year. He was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow in '85 –'86 and Rotary Foundation Benefactor in '89. He served as President in '68 of the TCU National Alumni Association and of the Frog Club in '77-'78. He is a Past President of the Advertising Club of Fort Worth, WFW Rotary, North Texas Mensa, TCU Journalism Exes Associations, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce/Ambassadors, and was District Governor of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) four-state area. He was with Patrick Media Company (and its eight predecessor-companies in Fort Worth) for 43 years. He previously served the North Texas region as President/GM and VP/Sales under different ownerships and finished as a Clear Channel AE for this media giant. His first four years out of college he was account executive/media buyer with Witherspoon, a leading PR/AD agency in Fort Worth. Pat was the Founder of the Mensa chapter in the Southwest. Profiled in “OYM of America” and the Marquis “Who's Who” books, he was Texas Jaycee VP of the year in '65, TCU's Valuable Alumnus in '76, and received the Southwest AAF's top award in '86. Pat served on many local, state, and national boards of directors including Casa Mañana, Texas Girls' Choir and others. Pat was referred to by many as an intelligent people person, bedrock and a good provider. May he rest in peace. Services will be held Saturday, April 22 at 2:00pm at the Wade Funeral Home Chapel, 4140 W Pioneer Pkwy, Arlington, TX 76013 with Ashes being brought to a final resting place at the New Hope Cemetery in early June 2017. Wade Family Funeral Home (817) 274-9233