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Pat’s come a long
way from growing up in a small town in Maui, Hawaii.
He spent his early
days growing up in Hilimile, Hawaii. Pronounced Hi-LI-Me-Le.
When Pat was 10 years old his family moved from Hawaii to Mesa,
Az. Quite a change!
Pat attended
Westward High School in Mesa and upon graduation joined the Army
and the 101st
Airborne stationed in Vietnam. Although part of the “101ST
Airborne”, Pat became a door gunner and crew chief aboard a
“Huey” gunship helicopter.
Upon returning from
Vietnam in 1969 Pat found his first Mustang, a 1968. He also met
his wife, Leisa, married her and took her on their honeymoon to
where else “Hawaii”.
Wait a minute,
isn’t this where our story began?
Pat and Leisa have
been married 40 years, and have two daughters, Morgan a nurse
and Madyson a helicopter pilot with an Air Evac Company. Madyson
is married to Pat’s favorite son-in-law, Andy Floyd, an
electrical contractor in Arizona.
Pat joined
AmericaWest airlines in 1985 and is currently a flight captain
on a B757 for U.S. Airways. Pat drives a 1967 Mustang Fastback
with a 289 engine and C-4 automatic transmission. He has
modified the Fastback with new suspension and big “Baer” disc
brakes all around. He has a fresh new red paintjob and red
interior making this a very sharp looking car with it’s crager
chrome mags. Future modifications will include a high
performance engine, a tremic 5-speed transmission and a
3:55-3:73 “Posi” rear end.
Pat joined
Copperstate Mustang Club last year after his brother-in-law, Ron
Himrich and his wife, Mary (Pat’s sister) became club members.
(We will get more info. on Ron and Mary in an upcoming article).
Pat has owned 8
Mustangs over the years and really enjoys his current Pony, and
the time he spends with Copperstate members he has met. We all
look forward to seeing Pat and Leisa at our many events. Thanks
for becoming a member. Best Wishes.
PS. You’ll like
Pat. He is easy going and a funny guy. He will fit in “well”
with the rest of us-car-crazy guys and can be seen at the
Pavilions on Saturday night when he is in town.
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