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PORTER -- PATRICK R. (PAT) Our beloved Pat, age 53 of Albuquerque, died Thursday, July 26, 2012. He was with his treasured son Connor (15) and great friend Connor Mantsch in an airplane accident in Sedona, Arizona on July 26th. Pat was a two-time U.S. Olympic Team Member (1984, 1988) in the 10,000 meters. He was a world record holder, twelve-time U.S. National Champion, won a record-setting eight-time consecutive USA Track & Field Senior Men's Cross Country National titles, he's in the Guinness book of World Records, he represented the U.S. at the World Cross Country Championships from 1982-1989 and placed 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, and 11th throughout his career. He was inducted into the following hall of fames: NAIA, RMAC two-time inductee, and Adams State Athletic Hall of Fame. He was an All American at Adams State College, and was on three NAIA National Cross Country Championship teams. In 1998 he played Finnish distance runner LasseViren in the movie Without Limits, a biographical film about American distance legend Steve Prefontaine. He competed for Athletics West, Nike, Mizuno and Pearl Izumi throughout his running career. He was a top salesman for Centex Homes, new homes construction, and won a plethora of awards including a car. He graduated from Adams State College in 1982, was a pilot, NRA member, and attended Calvary of Albuquerque. But more important than all of his amazing achievements was how he could make others laugh, touched lives, gave to others, and loved his family. He was our strength, our rock, our protector and the one who made us laugh from morning until bedtime. His commitment and dedication to those he loved and what he believed in was visible throughout his life. His impact on both the running and airplane community reaches around the world. Pat loved spending time with his children and wife. He spent countless hours helping Connor and Shannon with their homework or bible verse memorization, flying family and friends throughout the country, shopping with his girls, and lying on the floor playing with his dog Theo. He enjoyed collecting art, watching movies, riding his Harley or bike, flying, and shooting. Pat had strong convictions including the first amendment. We are comforted knowing that because of Pats personal relationship with Jesus Christ we will see him again in heaven one day. Pat would want each of you to come to know Jesus through this tragedy. We will miss him terribly and our lives and hearts have a huge hole. Also, we pray for the comfort to the Connor Mantsch family whose son was with Connor and Pat on their boy's trip. It was evident to all their last days were a total blast. Pat is survived by his "Honey" and wife of twenty years and 1988 U.S. Olympian Trish King Porter; "Punkin" girl Shannon Porter; father, Jack Everett Porter and mother, Ruth Taylor Porter from Cedar Edge, Colorado; twin sister Patricia Porter Van Inwagen and Chris Van Inwagen from Evergreen, Colorado. A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, August 19, 2012, 2:30 p.m., at Calvary of Albuquerque. For friends who wish, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Albuquerque Academy @ www.aa.edu/giving or Operation Heal Our Patriots (OHOP) with checks made out to Samaritan's Purse with "OHOP in memory of Pat & Connor Porter" in the memo line, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607-3000. Please visit our online guestbook for Patrick Porter at www.RememberTheirStory.com FRENCH 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400
        Published on: Sun August 12, 2012