Pat Hubert's Eulogy

This is my partner, Pancho Hubert's, dad's eulogy. I think it contains some great advice for living and with Pancho's permission I'm publishing it here. This was written by Pancho's oldest brother Vernie. I've had this in my files for awhile and I just ran across it.

Last Saturday was a day that I have been dreading all my life... my Dad died.

It is incredibly difficult to place into words a coherent and concise portrait of who my Dad was. I want to state the obvious from the outset; I will not do it justice. So for my inarticulateness and inadequacy, I apologize in advance; but as Poppa would say, “Bear with me, and I’ll give it my best shot.”

Dad was a wonderfully multi-faceted individual: to his faith, he was Patrick Laverne Hubert; to many of his TAMC baseball teammates, he was Patty; to his wife, he was Pat; to his children, he was Dad; to his many grandchildren, he was Poppa; and to the larger community, he was Doc. To explore in depth what each of these mean would violate one of Poppa’s rules about public speaking which was, “The head can only absorb, what the rear can endure” in other words, keep it short and simple. Therefore, I am going to try to provide a 50,000 foot view of him. In doing this, I know that I am going to shortchange facets of his life and many people that knew him and loved him but I cannot possibly hope to cover all at this time.

So, I will start with family, even though I should begin with his faith. His religion was the core from which all things flowed and it was intricately entwined throughout everything he did. However, I think family is the easier place to start–if you can characterize 9 children, 31 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren as an “easy starting point”. For me to even list them would violate his posterior rule, and would not even include the many cousins, nieces, nephews, brother, sister, (and in-laws). There are many people whom he considered kin by association. Or in other words, people he touched with his faith and through these they became related to him, as by blood.

Many of these look upon him as a brother/uncle/father/grandfather. So at the 50,000 foot level I will have to focus on the most important member of his life–Goldia Anne Burroughs Hubert, or as most people know her now “Buella”. That “city girl” from the large metropolis of Robstown whom he avidly courted and married.

I know it sounds funny and strange that I would say “courted” in referring to Poppa. It connotes romance and courtly rules in wooing a spouse. Certainly “romance” is not the word that comes to mind when you think of Poppa–just like John Wayne, no mushy stuff for him. The exception to this has always been his wife–Goldie. From the first moment they met in the drugstore in Sinton, he knew what “heifer” he wanted to build his foundation herd. Only by reading some of the “love letters” he wrote to Buella from college (which I might add Mambo wouldn’t let us finish reading) do you understand their type of love. It is a love built upon his faith. They courted and married in a chaste Christian manner. The Biblical admonition of “two shall become One” epitomizes their relationship. Even as very young children we knew who came first–for Buella it was Poppa and for Poppa it was Buella. There was no playing one against the other; if a decision was made then the other supported it. I am not going to pretend that there were never any harsh words. Many of the people here today are people that he coached in baseball and Poppa could be verbally harsh; I can assure you that he did not save it only for the ball field. If anyone he knew was engaging in inappropriate conduct, be it throwing or otherwise, he let you know in no uncertain terms. My Dad had an inability to dissemble and was not known for sugar coating the truth as he saw it. That’s not to say that he couldn’t be diplomatic; he was as diplomatic as the situation required - always influenced by his Texas straightforwardness. Working in Washington I am continually amazed at certain individuals that are held in high regard. They have an inability to speak the truth because it may offend... that was never a problem with Poppa.

I want to speak about their marriage today for my daughter, nieces and nephews, and the many young people who looked up to him. In this day and age of casual relations and disposable marriages theirs is one for them to emulate. For 54 years their Christian marriage endured and became stronger day by day. This wasn’t by chance. It began on the firm foundation of their Christian beliefs. You need to know and understand that life can be SO easy, if you do the right thing. I will tell you as he told us: “Don’t ever short change the Lord, and the Lord will never short change you”.

My Dad was a product of South Texas and was actively involved in its affairs. Rotary Club, military service, veterinarian, school board member, Kleberg-Kenedy County Livestock show, Bank Board Member, to name just a few. It is here that his attitudes and values were established. He was very proud of his ranching heritage and the values it represented... independence, hard work, keeping one’s word, to name just a few. From the time he was 4 years old (I know it is hard to believe in today’s world) he was working cattle with Poppy (or Granddad for my cousins). There was not a day in his life that he did not accomplish something. One of the worst things a person could do was be lazy or complacent. Every activity he pursued, he did it with the single-minded purpose of doing it to the best of his abilities. I remember as a child cleaning the floor of the clinic in a haphazard manner. He stopped me and instructed me on the proper way to sweep and mop the floor. To Poppa, anything worth doing (no matter how menial) was worth doing well. And yes, to those of you who worked with him at the clinic, I was taught with the same delicate teaching style that you were. Poppa showed no favoritism, king or serf... everyone was treated the same way. I would add that for those whom it seemed he was particularly hard on, it was only because he knew you could do better so he would not accept less.

This is where I need to talk about sports... particularly baseball. It was his passion and a major way he influenced so many young people. I am always amazed that when I relate Poppa’s way of coaching to people in today’s world; many are skeptical if not outright opposed to some of his, shall I say “severe” methods of coaching. What is difficult to relate is that... yes Poppa expected a lot from his players... but they knew he gave 110%. To Poppa, talent was great, but talent was God given. A person didn’t do anything himself to get talent. What he most admired was spirit. Hustle was everything. God might not have given everyone the same abilities, but through devotion and hard work, one can eclipse talent. Which brings me to his next passion... Texas A& M University.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the influence TAMC (as it was then known) had on his life. Poppa was an older TAMC student. He had been farming and ranching in South Texas for a few years when he finally decided to attend TAMU. Certainly the family tradition on his mother’s Sullivan/Fahey side of attending TAMC was an influence, but playing baseball was also a major factor. In the Corps of Cadets and on the ball field at TAMC his natural leadership abilities were honed and sharpened. These influences he brought back to South Texas and used in encouraging other young people to attend. As a young child Dad told me that he would pay for a TAMU education or the seminary... those were the choices. And with all due respect to his Excellency and the other religious here today (Father Romeo being excepted)... I realized early on that women would probably derail any papal aspirations that I might have. I would also say that of all his accomplishments at TAMU, the ones he considered most important were the positive religious influence that he exerted on his roommates. Which brings me to the final topic of my 50,000 feet view of Poppa’s life and the most important... his Catholic faith.

Although the Church has always been the center of his life... for most he was not one to wear his religion on his sleeve. I think for many of the young cowboys he influenced, it was not apparent and the reason he was so effective was the subtle manner in which it was imbedded in all that he did. However, if you looked, it was quite overt. Since his first receipt of the Blessed Sacrament as a young boy he was a daily communicant. His type of faith can be daunting to those less inspired and disciplined. The Biblical figure whom I think most resembles my Dad is Abraham. Poppa didn’t have issues with doubts or denial. As important as his family was to him, if God would have demanded a sacrifice he would have provided it... without question. For us, he provided an example of how to live a Christ centered life in today’s distracting and demanding world. He had an unwavering, uncompromising, devotion to Our Lord. Growing up, the entire family went to daily Mass. I find it hard to imagine, we can barely get anywhere on time, but 7:30 Mass in the morning with 9 children is truly miraculous. He instilled in us a strong sense of right and wrong and the temperament to act upon it. I hate to admit that unfortunately there were times in my life when I did not live up to his example and Christian teachings. These were choices that I made as a foolish young man. Thanks to Poppa, there was never any doubt in my mind what was right and what was wrong. He provided all of us with the ability to discern the truth... I knew and picked the foolish one. Fortunately, in his wisdom, he was also able to make me understand the fullness of Christ’s love. That even though I might make a wrong choice, that with repentance and a change in my ways, Christ would forgive and salvation would be achievable.

As a family, we have been blessed to have a father like Doc/Poppa. I always knew that he touched many people in ways that I was not aware. We have been absolutely overwhelmed as a family with the outpouring of support from the community at his death. It means so much at times like these. Thank you seems so inadequate for all that has been done. From your response I know that he has left a tremendous hole not only in the family but the community as well. We do realize as a family that the only way we can truly repay the kindness shown, is to continue his work and example... and to this we are committed.

Poppa was a “larger than life” individual. Although his physical being is gone, his spirit lives on. I know as his son that it is immodest for me to say that he was a... South Texas icon. He would say “let your actions do your boasting”. However, I am certain that those of us here today who knew him, will excuse me and join with me in this vanity/immodesty.

Poppa always said that “He was going to work as hard as he could, for as long as he could, and then he was going to lie down and die.” As usual, he did what he said.

This was written by Vernie Hubert with input from his family.