{"id":18996,"date":"2019-03-27T15:53:04","date_gmt":"2019-03-27T15:53:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=18996"},"modified":"2019-05-10T16:37:48","modified_gmt":"2019-05-10T16:37:48","slug":"pat-thomas-uspa-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/pat-thomas-uspa-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Pat Thomas \u2013 USPA Award"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!-- Sun Path Odyssey Large Leaderboard [async] --><br \/>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">if (!window.AdButler){(function(){var s = document.createElement(\"script\"); s.async = true; s.type = \"text\/javascript\";s.src = 'https:\/\/servedbyadbutler.com\/app.js';var n = document.getElementsByTagName(\"script\")[0]; n.parentNode.insertBefore(s, n);}());}<\/script><br \/>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\nvar AdButler = AdButler || {}; AdButler.ads = AdButler.ads || [];\nvar abkw = window.abkw || '';\nvar plc356875 = window.plc356875 || 0;\ndocument.write('<'+'div id=\"placement_356875_'+plc356875+'\"><\/'+'div>');\nAdButler.ads.push({handler: function(opt){ AdButler.register(175942, 356875, [860,248], 'placement_356875_'+opt.place, opt); }, opt: { place: plc356875++, keywords: abkw, domain: 'servedbyadbutler.com', click:'CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER' }});\n<\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pat Thomas \u2013 USPA Awardwinner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Patricia Annette Thomas was recently awarded the rare accolade of the USPA&#8217;s Lifetime Achievement Award. Jessie Thompson takes a look behind the scenes at Pat&#8217;s life and philosophy&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"860\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Pat-motorbike.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18997\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Pat-motorbike.jpg 860w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Pat-motorbike-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Pat-motorbike-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Pat-motorbike-400x225.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px\" \/><figcaption>Pat Thomas at Skydive Raeford with one of her other passions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>By Jessie Thompson D-32935<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Greatest Life Achievement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you asked Patricia Annette Thomas what her greatest life achievement was, she would say her family then quickly change the subject. She\u2019d recount a story from the myriad of wonderful moments in her life \u2013 the time she served tea to Queen Elizabeth, her being appointed an Honorary Golden Knight, or when she and fellow CPS owners were invited to fire a Minigun from a helicopter. There is nothing \u201cmini\u201d about this gigantic machine gun capable of firing 2,000 rounds per second in skilled hands. Pat Thomas likes to boast delightfully, \u201cto everyone\u2019s surprise, I fired more rounds from that Minigun than any of the men!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"860\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/pat-thomas-helicopter.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18998\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/pat-thomas-helicopter.jpg 860w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/pat-thomas-helicopter-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/pat-thomas-helicopter-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/pat-thomas-helicopter-400x225.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px\" \/><figcaption>&#8220;<em>I fired more rounds from that minigun than any of the men&#8221; \u2013<\/em>Pat Thomas <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But at the news of being the 2018 recipient of the USPA\u2019s Lifetime Achievement Award, she humbly resisted the honor, stating simply, \u201cthere are so many other people more deserving than me.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veteran cameraflyer Bruno Brokken disagrees, \u201cHer company, Sun Path, makes the best containers on the market and they\u2019ve always been really amazing, not only to their sponsored skydivers but to the entire skydiving community; and that is why she deserves that award 100%.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Huge Heart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pat\u2019s five-foot stature is a force to be reckoned with. Unabashedly direct, she is a fiercely loyal, honorable businesswoman whose impact traverses the globe. Born and raised in the UK, Pat emigrated to the US in 1992 and now has dual nationality. &#8221; I am a \u2018Proud American\u2019, never forgetting where I came from.&#8221; Her relationships with family, friends, and employees come before any of her impressively successful business endeavors. Pat is admired by all who know her for her tenacity, generosity, commitment and dedication. Daughter-in-law and Sun Path CFO, Jessica Blay said, \u201c[Pat\u2019s] heart is bigger than anyone I know. Family is most important to her, but the skydiving industry is part of her family.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"860\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/derek-and-pat-thomas-first-tandem.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19001\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/derek-and-pat-thomas-first-tandem.jpg 860w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/derek-and-pat-thomas-first-tandem-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/derek-and-pat-thomas-first-tandem-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/derek-and-pat-thomas-first-tandem-400x225.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px\" \/><figcaption>A very young Pat doing a tandem with future husband Derek Thomas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sun Path President<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pat celebrated her 60<sup>th<\/sup> birthday in 2017 and gave herself the gift of retirement. Old habits die hard though, and she came back to work soon after! President and Owner of Sun Path Products for nearly 30 years, Pat has just seen her company produce its 50,000<sup>th<\/sup> Javelin. Pat would tell you the driving force behind Sun Path\u2019s success is the people. Boldly stating \u201cthere is a method in madness\u201d, she wears many hats and has become one of the most influential women in the skydiving industry. The \u201cmethod in madness\u201d led to the development of four successful sister companies, including Complete Parachute Solutions (CPS), and Tactical Training Facility in Coolidge, catering to the military sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sponsorship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The success of Pat\u2019s businesses has afforded her a platform to give back to the skydiving community that she loves so much. \u00a0Sun Path has been an integral sponsor to the world\u2019s leading champions and teams of all skydiving disciplines. USPA Executive Director Ed Scott stated in Pat\u2019s nomination citation, \u201cShe has attended nearly every USPA Nationals since 1992 and every World Championships, World Cup, and Mondial since 1989.\u201d How does Pat feel when she goes to a World Meet and see almost every podium team sporting Javelins? &#8220;Very proud of all their hard work, dedication and sacrifice.&#8221; They choose to sponsor up and coming athletes as well as National Champions. &#8220;We have a team that works together and takes this very seriously, trying not to forget former champions, mentors, instructors but also looking to the future.\u00a0 A lot of future champions have come from those youngsters that compete in Collegiate Championships.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Skydiving Museum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For decades Pat has run conferences, meetings and logistical planning for USPA, BPA, FAI and IPC. Why do so much unpaid work? &#8220;Because it is FUN!&#8221; she replies. Pat strongly believes in the importance of preserving skydiving history and has worked passionately to honor the path to the present. Since 2011, her \u201cbaby\u201d, so to speak, has been the International Skydiving Museum and Hall of Fame, on which she is a Board of Trustees member and Chair of the Nominations Committee.\u00a0 She masterminds fundraising and logistics, and recently helped orchestrate \u201cOperation Packrat,\u201d in which her team of Skydiving Museum cohorts catalogued and stored hundreds of artifacts for the museum in her Raeford warehouse, until they have a permanent home in the Museum to be erected in Florida. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">PIA Chair <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Elected Chair of the Parachute Industry Association (PIA) Symposium Committee in 2003, she stands at the helm of the team that has successfully coordinated its tenth PIA Symposium. Ed Scott gave perspective, \u201c[The Symposium] brings together nearly 1,000 skydivers, manufactures, instructional rating holders, riggers, and industry leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"860\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Pat-thomas-lifetime-achievement-award.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18999\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Pat-thomas-lifetime-achievement-award.jpg 860w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Pat-thomas-lifetime-achievement-award-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Pat-thomas-lifetime-achievement-award-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Pat-thomas-lifetime-achievement-award-400x225.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px\" \/><figcaption>Pat, collecting her USPA Lifetime Achievement Award in uncharacteristically shy mode<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Award Ceremony <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The PIA 2019 Symposium Sun Path party saw the Hyatt in downtown Dallas filled with over 300 of Pat\u2019s family, friends, athletes, colleagues, and dealers. Greg Windmiller warmed up the audience by sharing anecdotes about Pat before USPA Board Members Sherry Butcher and Randy Ottinger took the podium to present Pat with her award. Sherry spoke of the award\u2019s history before inviting Pat to take the stage. \u201cIt is awarded to an expert sport parachute jumper, active or retired, in recognition of outstanding sportsmanship skill, or personal contribution to both the sport of skydiving, and the USPA\u2026 we want to thank you, Pat, for your leadership, generosity, and passion. Your hard work and dedication to our sport is truly inspiring and the inscription on your award reflects that.\u201d Pat was applauded as she stepped on stage sporting a Sun Path company uniform, bare feet and an uncharacteristically shy demeanor. Randy read aloud the inscription. \u201cFor nearly three decades of advancing the sport of skydiving by sponsoring competitors and teams and being a leader in the harness and container industry and masterfully organizing the International Parachute Association Symposium.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pat beamed at the hard-won honor, shaking hands and sharing affection with her presenters before promptly handing the award back. Without speaking into the microphone, she said \u201cthank you\u201d and quickly ran off the stage, her face a cheery shade of red. The room erupted with congratulatory applause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"860\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/PIA_2019-07776-Pat-Thomas-and-Sun-Path.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/PIA_2019-07776-Pat-Thomas-and-Sun-Path.jpg 860w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/PIA_2019-07776-Pat-Thomas-and-Sun-Path-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/PIA_2019-07776-Pat-Thomas-and-Sun-Path-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/PIA_2019-07776-Pat-Thomas-and-Sun-Path-400x225.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px\" \/><figcaption>Pat, more comfortable with her award when surrounded by the Sun Path team<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rusty Lewis, IBA Director of Safety and Training, summed up her nature, \u201cPat is a pioneer within the industry, forward-thinking, hard-working, with a spicy personality. Her leadership has powered the Sun Path team to innovate products that have made us safer and raised the standards for the sport we see and feel today. Pat\u2019s attitude to making things happen and no-holds-barred, unrestrictive zest for creating the best of the best and pushing for excellence is inspirational.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How did Pat feel about the award? &#8220;This is probably my highest accolade. I was very shocked to be recognized by my peers and only the second woman and I think the first immigrant to have received the award. It was rather nice to know that people are paying attention to you when you actually believe they are not.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">We Salute HER!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even with a lifetime of achievements under her belt, Pat Thomas is not one to slow down, and we expect to see her support of skydiving continue for many years. We salute Pat Thomas with heart-felt CONGRATULATIONS on receiving the USPA\u2019s highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award!! HER!! HER!! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>By Jessie Thompson USPA D-32935<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p><!-- Sun Path Aurora Supersize [async] --><br \/>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">if (!window.AdButler){(function(){var s = document.createElement(\"script\"); s.async = true; s.type = \"text\/javascript\";s.src = 'https:\/\/servedbyadbutler.com\/app.js';var n = document.getElementsByTagName(\"script\")[0]; n.parentNode.insertBefore(s, n);}());}<\/script><br \/>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\nvar AdButler = AdButler || {}; AdButler.ads = AdButler.ads || [];\nvar abkw = window.abkw || '';\nvar plc356878 = window.plc356878 || 0;\ndocument.write('<'+'div id=\"placement_356878_'+plc356878+'\"><\/'+'div>');\nAdButler.ads.push({handler: function(opt){ AdButler.register(175942, 356878, [860,484], 'placement_356878_'+opt.place, opt); }, opt: { place: plc356878++, keywords: abkw, domain: 'servedbyadbutler.com', click:'CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER' }});\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A look behind the scenes at Pat&#8217;s life, philosophy and why she deserves the Lifetime Achievement Award&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":18997,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"pmpro_default_level":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,1],"tags":[103,85,104],"class_list":["post-18996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gear","category-uncategorized","tag-javelin","tag-sunpath","tag-uspa","pmpro-has-access"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - 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