Pat Randolph
IT WAS A COLD AND WINDY DAY in the city of De Pere during May 1995. De Pere, Wisconsin is a suburb of Green Bay. It is nestled along the scenic Fox River and has approximately 23,000 permanent residents. However, during school the population can increase to 25,000. Pat was about to graduate summa cum laude from Norbertine College with a bachelor’s degree in pre-law. His parents, Bill and Alice were there to show their unwavering support for his accomplishment. Pat was the first person in the family to graduate from college. He was excited to have his parents in attendance, but his Grandfather Wilbur, Uncle Jim, and Aunt Jean would also be coming as well. Pat’s friend, Bob, would also be coming as well. Bob graduated from Norbertine College in 1993. Bob and Pat were like brothers despite not being related to each other. They are still lifelong friends today.
Pat’s father Bill never graduated from a major university. He originally wanted to become a journalist, but when his school wanted him to take a foreign language he dropped out.
Bill is 48, 5’7”, has short brown hair, brown eyes, and wears glasses. He is heavier than most people his age due to a medical condition. Bill has been an I.T. manager for 15 years.
Pat’s mother Alice never went to college. She has been a travel agent for 15 years. Alice is 48, 5’4”, with brown hair in a perm, blue eyes, and wears glasses. Bill and Alice have been married happily for 24 years.
Bill said to Pat, “I am so proud of you and what you have accomplished.”
Pat said in a thankful voice, “Thanks, Dad, that means a lot to me.”
Bill said in reply, “You are welcome, son.”
Pat ran off to meet up with the rest of his graduating class of 1995. However, during the graduation ceremony, Pat kept thinking to himself as to what he is going to do with his career. There were many offers that Pat had received, and he needed to decide soon. He received an offer from prestigious schools such as Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia. Pat was interested in becoming a criminal defense attorney just like Perry Mason. His late grandmother, Virginia, was a big fan of Perry Mason. She loved Raymond Burr. Pat was also was considering an offer to work with the Windy City Police Department as an intern in their detective bureau.
Pat was always obsessed with solving mysteries just like his late grandmother, Virginia. He was a big fan of the Agatha Christie books and movies. His favorite TV shows included Law and Order: SVU, Law and Order, Columbo, and Perry Mason. But his all-time favorite was Alfred Hitchcock. Pat would watch his favorite movie, North by Northwest, several times a week.
Pat did not decide his career path until he was a junior at Norbertine College. Originally, he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the United States Air Force. Pat envisioned himself flying jet airplanes such as the SR-71 Blackbird. As a child Pat would spend countless hours building model airplanes and hang them throughout his room. However, one summer day in between his junior and senior year at Streamwood High School, Pat found out that he had to wear glasses. Unfortunately, Pat soon realized that would kill his dream of flying planes since you cannot wear glasses going two to three times the speed of sound. The Air Force was strict with that policy.
Pat remembers telling his father about not being able to follow in his footsteps. He thought his father would be angry for not being able to join the Air Force. However, much to his surprise, his father perfectly understood the reason why his son did not want to go into the military. But his father did offer some advice to Pat.
Bill said to Pat, “You can still go into the Air Force and be a mechanic.”
Pat responded, “Dad, that is not the same as flying in the air. Besides, I am not particularly good with my hands.”
In high school, Pat was a jock. He loved sports. Pat played soccer and was an avid bowler. He was very athletic for being 180 pounds and 5’10”. He kept his brown hair short and had crystal blue eyes. Pat played soccer since he was five years old, which helped him to develop his athletic prowess. Many times throughout high school, Pat was asked by his gym teacher, Don Soto, if he would try out for the football team. His gym teacher, Don, would have the gym class run forty-yard sprints every class. Pat was so fast he outran nearly all his classmates except one, Chip. Chip was also a soccer player and would ultimately play overseas with Manchester United of the English Premier League. But Pat loved soccer so much he turned down his gym teacher multiple times. He also knew that football conflicted with soccer since they were held during the fall sports season.
While at Norbertine College Pat continued to play soccer his freshman year. The soccer coach was the former head coach of the Dutch national soccer team. Pat was extremely excited to learn from a coach with international experience. But during tryouts, Pat developed a severe case of vertigo and was unable to finish tryouts. As a result, Pat was removed from the team. During his sophomore year, he walked on to the football team and won a spot as a fullback and place kicker. Pat played two years, and in his third year Pat suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. The injury was due to getting his cleat caught in the mud during football drills. This was devastating to Pat since he had never suffered a major injury while playing sports for many years as a youth and teenager. But this would not be the first time Pat suffered a setback in his life or career.
After the graduation ceremony, Pat met up with his friends and family at his favorite restaurant called the Prime Grill. Pat loved the steaks they served there. Whenever Pat’s parents came to visit him in college, they would go to the restaurant. He went there so much that the waitresses knew him by name and his favorite order. Pat would always order a twenty-four ounce sirloin cooked medium with a baked potato and garlic Texas toast.
Pat’s father Bill said to him, “Have you decided what you are going to do with your life?”
Pat said to his father, “I am leaning heavily towards taking the internship with the Windy City Police Department.”
Pat’s father said in reply, “Are you sure that is what you want to do?”
Pat emphatically replied, “Yes, Dad.”
Pat’s mother, Alice, said in calm cool voice, “Let’s enjoy dinner and talk about this later.”
Pat replied, “Thanks, Mom.”
After dinner Pat, Bill, and Alice spoke about the future for Pat. Pat was convinced that taking the internship with the Windy City Police Department was the right move. He was looking forward to beginning his life and career.
