SENATE APPROVES HYDE-SMITH RESOLUTION HONORING PATRICK GOTTSCH, ADVOCATE FOR RURAL AMERICA

SENATE APPROVES HYDE-SMITH RESOLUTION HONORING PATRICK GOTTSCH, ADVOCATE FOR RURAL AMERICA

Hyde-Smith Measure Pays Tribute to Gottsch, the RFD-TV Founder Who Passed Away This Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today secured Senate passage of her resolution honoring the life and legacy of Patrick Gottsch, the founder of radio and television outlets that promoted the values of rural America and agricultural issues.

Hyde-Smith used a rare live unanimous consent request to gain approval of S.Res.733, which the Senator introduced in June following Gottsch's passing on May 18, 2024.

"This resolution honors the life and legacy of my dear friend Patrick Gottsch. Patrick was a strong friend and ally of Rural America, and it is only appropriate that the Senate commemorate his life," Hyde-Smith said. "Along with so many other rural Americans, I miss Patrick every day. It is an honor to remember Patrick by advocating for and promoting the rural way of life in the Senate."

S.Res.733 was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.).

In a June floor speech, Hyde-Smith praised Gottsch for giving "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," Hyde-Smith said.

The following is the text of S.Res.733:

RESOLUTION

Honoring the life and legacy of Patrick Gottsch.

Whereas Patrick Gene Gottsch was born on June 3, 1953, in Elkhorn, Nebraska;

Whereas Mr. Gottsch was raised on his family's farm and cattle operation, which instilled in him the values of rural America;

Whereas Mr. Gottsch obtained a wide array of career experiences that enabled him to be a trailblazer in the rural and agricultural programming space;

Whereas Mr. Gottsch worked as a commodity broker on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, in the home satellite dish industry, and as Director of Sales for the Superior Livestock Auction in the Fort Worth Stockyards;

Whereas Mr. Gottsch launched Rural Free Delivery Television (RFD-TV) in 2002;

Whereas Mr. Gottsch was the founder and president of Rural Media Group, Inc., which, in addition to RFD-TV, grew to consist of RFD-TV The Magazine, RFD HD, RURAL TV, RURAL RADIO, and The Cowboy Channel;

Whereas millions of individuals in the United States have benefitted from Mr. Gottsch's innovative approach to educating the populace on rural and agricultural issues through the use of television and other mediums; and

Whereas Mr. Gottsch's work to represent farmers, ranchers, and rural America through television was unprecedented and has left an indelible mark on the hearts of millions of individuals in the United States: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate-
(1) honors the life and legacy of Patrick Gottsch, particularly the devotion of Mr. Gottsch-
(A) to rural America;
(B) to espousing the values of rural America through agricultural and rural programming; and
(C) to advocating for a greater understanding of the importance of rural America to the economy, culture, and progress of the nation;
(2) extends its gratitude to Mr. Gottsch for a life well-lived, and will continue to remember his legacy; and
(3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of Mr. Gottsch.

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