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Pat Fallon
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Pat is the president and chief
executive officer of Prosper-
based Virtus Apparel. The
company has more than a
dozen national locations and
more than 100 employees.
Pat earned his bachelor’s
degree in Government and
International Relations from
the University of Notre Dame.
There, Fallon played varsity
football under Coach Lou
Holtz and was a member of
the 1988 national champion-
ship team. While there, he
also started a T-shirt busi-
ness and was a cadet in the
Reserve Officers Training
Corps of the United States
Air Force. Subsequently, he
served as a second lieutenant
for four years, during which
he received the Air Force
Achievement Medal.
Pat is a Texas State
Representative, (R-Frisco), who
is challenging state Sen. Craig
Estes, R-Wichita Falls.
Why?
“They desperately want some-
body new,” Fallon said of
constituents in Senate District
30 (Parker County’s district),
represented by Estes since
2001. “It’s been 16 years —
it’s going to be 18 years. They
want a change. They don’t see
him around.”
Lately, Pat has spent a lot of his
time in Parker County charm-
ing the un-charm-able. What
does Fallon mean to Parker
County? What does Parker
County mean to Fallon?
PCT: How did you choose your
current occupation?
PF: When Obama won the presiden-
cy in 2008, I was upset that someone
that was so unqualified just won the
highest, most powerful position in
the world. I was ranting and my wife
said, “Why don’t you do something
about it.” So I did. I ran for city coun-
cil of Frisco and won. There were
four candidates and I won.
There was no runoff.
PCT: What is your favorite novel?
PF: Gates of Fire by Steven Presfield.
PCT: What do you do to decompress?
PF: During a campaign, I campaign
harder. Otherwise, I spend time with
my family or I workout.
PCT: What is something most people
don’t know about you?
PF: That I ran seven marathons in
seven days on seven continents, start-
ing in Antarctica and ended with
Australia (in Sidney). I’m the only
person that ever ran his first marathon
in Antarctica. There were 15 people
and we all survived. We ran in The
World’s Greatest Endurance Test
— The World Marathon Challenge.
It was to benefit a little boy named
Jonny Wade, who was suffering from
a rare form of brain cancer. We also
ran to bring awareness to the disease.
Now Chris Devero, who lives in
Aledo is preparing to run in the
upcoming World Marathon. Chris is a
brain cancer survivor himself. In Feb.
of 2018, he plans to run in the same
marathon. We’re buddies and he and
his wife Katy are big supporters. Chris
is now wearing the same bracelet I
wore when I ran.
PCT: What would you most like to be
remembered for?
PF: For accepting the fact that there
are things that are greater than any
one person and for loving my neigh-
bor.
PCT: You’re a native of
Massachusetts. Right? How did you
end up in Texas?
PF: I was born in Pittsfield, Mass.
When I was in the Air Force, at
Sheppard in Wichita Falls, the
woman in Processing asked me
which state I would like to claim resi-
dency in. I said, “Massachusetts.”
She said, “FYI, Massachusetts has a
9.5 state income tax. Texas doesn’t
have a state income tax.” I claimed
Texas as my home state. I’ve been a
Texan since that day.
PCT: If you could have lunch with
someone, living or dead in history,
who it would be?
PF: Besides Jesus? Winston Churchill
because he would be happy to speak
the entire time and I would be happy
to listen the entire time.
PCT: If you had to do another job
other than what you’re doing, what
would you do?
PF: I’d be a radio talk show host or
play left field for the Boston Red
Socks.
PCT: Why are you interested in
Parker County?
PF: I’ve visited Parker County 50
times, in the past few months. When
I was doing my 12 th event on a Friday
afternoon at 5:00. I arrived to see
65 people there to see me. It was
hard for me to keep my emotions in
check. I’ve absolutely fallen in love
with Parker County. I’d love to be a
great official advocate for it.
PCT: What is your definition of the
best day ever?
PF: To wake up in Parker County …
and it can’t get any better.
PCT: What’s the best piece of advice
you would give?
PF: Never forget who you work for.
PCT: What is the coolest thing you
have ever done in your life?
PF: I was on a national championship
football team for Coach Lou Holtz at
Notre Dame.