Pat Beckett 1941-2020
My friend Pat Beckett died November 20, 2020, in Las Cruces. I first met Pat in 1995, as the sales manager for UNM Press, and then later that year at my first Pecos Conference. When it came to Pecos I was square as a pool table and twice as green. He helped cover my tables when the rains came, and gave me a life-long lesson, “It always rains at Pecos.” I’ve since tried to be that model for others when it came to Pecos, thanks to Pat.
Pat and I are Marines. There is no past tense when it comes to the Corps. You don’t join the Marines. You become one. We celebrated many Marine Corps birthdays together. I will treasure those.
I’ve tried to be a bookseller in the footsteps of Pat Beckett. Whether I succeed or fail at that goal is my customer’s decision, but I do my best to follow his example.
Semper Fidelis, Patricio. I will miss you.