[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 99 (Wednesday, June 12, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S4039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                      Remembering Patrick Gottsch

  Mr. RICKETTS. Madam President, I rise today to honor the life and 
legacy of a great Nebraskan and great American, Patrick Gottsch.
  Growing up on his family farm in Elkhorn, NE, Patrick learned to love 
rural America and the Western lifestyle. His father grew corn and had a 
cattle feedlot. After college, he worked as a commodities broker for 5 
years in Chicago and in Omaha.
  On the day his daughter was born, Patrick came down the hill from the 
hospital and saw a guy trying to put a satellite dish together. He 
decided to help. After 6 hours of work, the dish was installed, and 
Patrick was hooked on satellite television.
  Patrick then started E.T. Installations, which was a pioneer in the 
home satellite industry. During this time, Patrick first began 
exploring the idea of a TV channel devoted to the issues and interests 
of rural America, but at that moment, it was only a dream. Patrick 
worked hard making that dream a reality.
  In 1991, Patrick moved to Texas. He worked as the director of sales 
for Superior Livestock Auction, which pioneered satellite marketing in 
the livestock industry. Because of Patrick's innovations, Superior 
Livestock became the largest livestock auction enterprise in the 
country.
  In 2000, Patrick decided to take a leap of faith. He committed full 
time to the task of creating a 24-hour TV network for rural America. He 
called his company Rural Media Group.
  Patrick Gottsch's dream was becoming a reality. Rural Free Delivery 
Television, RFD-TV, launched with DISH Network in September of 2000. 
Distribution quickly increased. Today, RFD-TV is available in more than 
50 million homes nationwide.
  Patrick's Rural Media Group continued to expand, adding RFD The 
Magazine, RFD HD, Rural TV, Rural Radio, and the RFD-TV Now app.
  In 2017, Patrick launched the Cowboy Channel, the first 24-hour 
network devoted entirely to Western sports like rodeo. The Cowboy 
Channel is now the official network of ProRodeo, bringing the talents 
of world-class cowboys and cowgirls to people all over the world.
  In addition, Patrick last year launched the Cowgirl Channel, 
dedicated exclusively to women in Western sports and the modern-day 
cowgirl.
  Patrick Gottsch loved rural America. He loved its people, its values, 
and its lifestyle. His visionary leadership brought the best of rural 
America to tens of millions of homes around the world. He reconnected 
the city and the country. His contributions to broadcasting, ranching, 
rodeo, and business will long be remembered.
  My wife Susanne and I send our condolences to Patrick's beloved wife 
Angie; his three daughters, Raquel, Gatsby, and Rose; and his 
grandchildren.
  I am grateful to Senator Hyde-Smith for leading the resolution to 
honor Patrick Gottsch's life and legacy.
  With that, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
  Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Madam President, I also rise today to honor the life 
and legacy of my friend Patrick Gottsch, the founder and president of 
Rural Media Group, who passed away May 18.
  Mr. Gottsch was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend 
who dedicated his life to supporting and promoting rural America 
through television.
  Patrick was born on June 3, 1953, in Elkhorn, NE, and raised on his 
family's farm and cattle operation. From a young age, he learned the 
value of hard work, perseverance, and the unique value that rural 
communities bring to our Nation.
  Having worked as a commodity broker on the Chicago Mercantile 
Exchange, in home satellite sales, and as director of sales for the 
Superior Livestock Auction, he founded Rural Free Delivery Television, 
RFD-TV, in 2000. And it is on my TV every day.
  Rural Media Group grew to additionally consist of many other things, 
including the Cowboy Channel--one of our very favorite--giving rural 
America the visibility it lacked through traditional media outlets.
  Rural America owes much to Patrick's innovation and his tenacity. Not 
many people have the ability to articulate and describe the true 
essence of how special life in rural America is like Patrick did. Rural 
communities are the heartbeat of our Nation, often overlooked but 
essential to our Nation's survival and prosperity.
  Patrick gave rural America a voice. In an increasingly urbanized 
world, Patrick reminded us of the value of rural America. He advocated 
for the 2 percent of Americans who feed the other 98 percent. He 
reminded Americans that our clothes and food don't magically grow on 
shelves at the store.
  We honor Patrick Gottsch for his unprecedented work to promote the 
American rural way of life that my family and I get to enjoy every 
single day. He was truly a great ambassador for rural America, and I 
know he would want us to continue to tell the story to the entire 
world.
  I offer my deepest condolences to the Gottsch family during this 
time, and I will strive to honor Patrick's legacy by stressing the 
continued need for access for rural and agricultural media and 
programming for all Americans. May Patrick's determination, love for 
rural America, and persistence in telling the great story of rural 
America never be forgotten.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority whip.