Thomas P. Patrick, DDS Fund
TYPE OF FUND: Designated DATE ESTABLISHED: 2001
PURPOSE: To honor the memory of Thomas P. Patrick, DDS by providing funding for the Canaan Valley / Davis / Thomas Boy Scout Troop 96 with emphasis on supporting high adventure treks.
DISTRIBUTION: To Boy Scout Troop 96 upon the recommendation of the Grants Committee, and approval by the Board of Directors of TCF.
VARIANCE POWER: If, in the judgment of the TCF Board of Directors, the restrictions and conditions of the fund become unnecessary, incapable of fulfillment or inconsistent with the charitable needs of the community, the TCF Board of Directors maintains the right to modify the terms of this fund.
FUNDING: Donations from family and friends. TCF received $50,900 from a life insurance bequest made by Dr. Patrick prior to his death.
BACKGROUND: Dr. Thomas P. Patrick was a charter member of the Board of Directors of TCEF serving from 1988 until his untimely death in 2000. He was elected President in 1995 and during the 5 years he served as president, the assets of TCF grew from $243,657 to $645,251. He is perhaps best remembered within TCF as the originator of the Foundations annual Fourth of July fund raiser, Uncle Sam’s Birthday Party which he enthusiastically emceed during his reign. A native of Charleston, WV, Tom came to Tucker County in 1976 to establish a dental practice. He initially expected to stay a few years, but fell in love with the area, its people, and the outdoor activities and decided to make it his permanent home.
Born October 26, 1951 in Charleston, WV, he was the fourth child of the late George Spicer and Nan Peyton Patrick. He graduated in 1969 from Stonewall Jackson High School in Charleston, took undergraduate classes at WVU and graduated from the WVU School of Dentistry in 1976.
In 1984 Dr. Patrick was asked to help establish a Boy Scout Troop. For 16 years he served as Scoutmaster, traveling extensively with the 35 member troop. During those years, Dr. Patrick drew great pleasure from leading the local boys on treks from their own neighborhood mountains to as far away as the Adirondack Mountains of NY to New Mexico to Key West, Fl. Twice they took bike trips on the 184 mile C&O Canal. During those years Tom proudly watched as 11 members of his troop earned their Eagle Scout rank: Robert Andre, Matthew Hinkle, Ronald Haverty, Jeremy Mayor, Billy Plaugher, Jason Hamrick, Ben Black, Chris Paugh, Christian Cosner, Jason Gaither and Steven Cooper. When it became necessary to turn over his troop, a twelfth, Ryan Winters, was on his way to earning the coveted Eagle destination. For his work with the Scouts, Dr. Patrick was accorded the highest honor given by Scouting, The Silver Beaver, by Allohak Council.
In 1996 Dr. Patrick was diagnosed with Amotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gerhig’s Disease. He continued to practice dentistry for 3 more years.
In 1998, “Doc” helped establish a Cub Scout Troop. He was also a Read Aloud volunteer at Davis Thomas Elementary School in nearby Thomas, WV where his two youngest children were attending at the time.
In the spring of 1998, Dr. Patrick was named “Tuckineer” by the Tucker County Chamber of Commerce, the highest honor given at its annual awards banquet. The following year, he was one of the 12 WV individuals and organizations honored in Charleston during the annual WV Conference on Volunteerism, Community Service and Service-learning. He received the 1999 Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dr. Patrick died at his home in Canaan Valley Dec. 15, 2000. At his request, a Celebration of Life was held at the Davis Fire Hall. More than 200 persons attended.
He is survived by his wife, Donna and four children. Anna Lea Patrick and Matthew Russell Patrick reside in Canaan Valley with their mother, daughters Erin Patrick McNight and Keri Patrick reside in Florida but return to Canaan Valley often.