carl unedited interview

Spell your name for the editor. It's our second way of making sure we don't screw up.

Yeah. Carl Showalter with a C. C-A-R-L S-H-O-W-A-L-T-E-R.

And you were saying that you— Yeah.

I first met Patrick, we shared a mutual friend, John Benson's dad, Scott Benson, who we, you know, lost a few years ago. But that's how I was introduced to Patrick. I'm blessed to call him my friend. He's one of those guys, I consider him a foxhole friend. He knows everything about me but still likes me. But I know though that if I ever got in a dark spot or in a bad spot that I could call him no matter what time of day it was and he would come get me. Of course, when he'd pick me up, he'd give me a rash of you know what. That's just par for the course, and I probably deserve it. But we— hey, look at this.

We're in the middle of our interview.

Yeah, you come on, come on here and sit down. I'm just sharing with them how I first got to know Patrick.

Yeah, just have a seat. Okay, so that was hilarious. That was great. I'm definitely going to use that. Okay. So tell me about Patrick's story. Service to country, Dad.

I mean, Patrick is the epitome of the servant leader. I mean, he— both he and Kristen, you know, they write the check, but most importantly, they're quick to roll up their sleeves and do the dirty work.

Hold on just a second. You guys want to go back out? Yeah.

Do you mind?

No, no, that's perfect. I'm sorry.

No, I'm sorry.

That's okay. Don't worry about it.

I might copy some slides.

I'm sorry.

No, that's good.

So who was that?

That's Elizabeth Portland. Again, she, yeah, just, now her oldest was in my youngest class.

Okay. Okay. So you were saying servant leader?

Yeah. Yeah. Just, you know, the epitome of just someone who's going to do what needs to be done with no strings attached. He's going to set the example, and they do set the example. Doesn't matter what it is, whether it's flipping burgers at Big Saturday or for Special Olympics, the Boosters Club, always willing to step up and do it. You know, it's always— you always hear about the 80/20 rule where 20% of the people do 80% of the work. Well, Patrick does 99% of the work. So.

All of this stuff is good. I mean, everything you said is good.

Really?

Yes, yes. And it's good the way you said it too. So if you could tell me something funny about Patrick?

Well, I always give him a hard time. You all remember the old TV show— you probably don't remember it, but All in the Family, Archie Bunker, you know. I always say you're Archie Bunker times 2. And I told him that the other day, and he got a little offended. And I said, well, I'm Archie Bunker, too. So we're— again, we're buddies.

That's good. And then can you think of a particular thing that you did with him, you know? You know, just maybe a particular example. And if you can't, that's no big deal. It's— we've got—

Well, I mean, just talking about the kind of guy Patrick is. You know, I went to Savannah Country Day down in Savannah, Georgia, and they asked me to help with a track project down there. And I was talking to Patrick, said, hell, I'll ride down there with you. So, he rode, you know, 4 hours down there and walked my campus. And just kept me company the whole time. Again, just always willing to throw himself into anything and do it.

He's the kind of person that we need more of in country today, or maybe exemplifies him.

Oh yeah, yeah. He is the poster boy for what a all-in— you know, it's like Coach Swinney at Clemson talks about being all-in. He is all-in. We need more folks like him to do what he does. And he does it with no strings attached. I mean, you talk about givers and takers, he's a giver, period.

So look into the camera and say, congratulations, you deserve this, or something like that.

Patrick, congratulations, well deserved. Your children need to be— they should be very proud of you. I'm certainly proud of you, and welcome to the club, buddy.

Good, good, good, good.

Think that'll work?

Yeah.