Guest Book

Hello. A huge fan of Pat and born on the same day except two years later, I am still sad at his passing. Time has gone by so fast. My ex husband graduated from the Citadel with Pat and was in Pat's English class which gives me some "connection'".
I have been to the Citadel a few times and loved every minute of it including hanging out in Charleston. I just have one question.: When will the book Pat started. Aquarious" be published? Keep up the great work with this website as it brings Pat to life each time we, his fans, look at it.

I first met Pat when I was a plebe and he was a Senior at The Citadel in 1966. Pat roomed three doors down from my 4th Battalion R Company alcove. Pat was a Senior private and military discipline was not high on his list. His room was often a safe haven for knobs who were trying to hide out from the hazing of upperclass men.

Pat was our starting point guard on our Bulldog basketball team and was an an outstanding player. I remember when we played VMI he scored over 29 points and we won in quadruple overtime setting a Southern Conference record. His father was upset with him because he did not score more points.

I have enjoyed reading all of Pat’s novels from cover to cover. A few years prior to Pat’s passing I had the privilege of attending one of his book signings in Raleigh. It was great catching up with him sharing a few war stories at The Citadel. Today my wife and I visited Pat’s grave just past the old Brick Church on St Helena Island. Pat is buried in a predominantly African American cemetery very fitting for a man who once taught English on Daufuski Island and cared about all mankind. Pat’s legacy will live on for generations to come. It was a real honor to have known this great Southern novelist!

I have been a huge Pat Conroy fan since the day I read “The Great Santini” in the early 1980s. His beautiful way with words inspired me to become a journalist and a writer. Today I teach high school English. And I am excited to include “The Water is Wide” in my English class this year. I have always wanted to teach a Conroy book to students — and I am excited to finally have that chance. Maybe his writing will inspire my students the way it has me.

If you are a Conroy follower and haven’t read his 1996 preface to the current printing of Scribner’s and Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind, it is a stirring tribute to the years that wrapped the War Between the States, pre-, during and post-. A marvelous essay that captures the spirit of the Lost Cause and all that became of the South, Atlanta and the futility of ante-bellum life. And now, for me, it’s on to reading the 1,000 page tome from 1936 that changed the American literature scene.

Some 30 years ago I read Prince of Tides and could not put the book down. Recently, while searching my local library, I came across South of Broad. I've just spent most of the day and evening reading this wonderful put and have just finished it. I wish I had sufficient words to give adequate praise to his writing. It is so honest, laying human frailties out for all to see, and then demonstrating the triumph of the human spirit. His writing was such a wonderful gift.

2003-2004 was the last of my preliminary vice presidential years before becoming president of the South Carolina Council of Teachers of English (SCCTE). That year our board chose former Beaufort High School English teacher Gene Norris as the person we wanted to honor with our Richard P. Riley Award, presented annually to someone who has made significant contributions to the teaching of English in our state.

My role at the time led me to be tasked with some of the particulars of how to honor Gene in the most memorable way possible. Since we were quite familiar with Gene's friendship with Pat, his former student, and the way that Pat always managed to slip in beautiful tributes to Gene (as well as the larger population of dedicated English teachers) in his interviews and conversations, we knew that our celebration had to include Pat Conroy.

Some time during Pat's publicity tour for My Losing Season he was scheduled for a signing at the Open Book (now unfortunately open no longer) in Greenville, SC. We made arrangements with the owner for me to meet Pat before he greeted the general public. That moment is a cherished memory I will never forget.

When I told Pat that our state English teacher association was planning to recognize Gene with its highest award, he looked at me and without missing a beat said, "Son, if you're doing anything to honor Gene Norris, you just tell me when and where, and I'll be there."

Of course, he was true to his word. I can promise anyone who reads this that there are quite a few English teachers around the state of South Carolina who remember seeing Pat's tribute to Gene that year as one of the most beautiful moments in the history of our conference. Sadly, Gene passed away several months later, but one of his family members told me at his funeral how precious that moment was for Gene as well.

I just wanted to publicly thank Pat for what he meant to those of us who teach English. In addition to his wonderful books, we are so fortunate to still have his beautiful words of support for our profession with us.

I just finished The Prince of Tides and loved every page. Mr. Conroy's development of his characters with their emotions, cultural background and conflicts of love and family were extraordinary. His style of writing in itself is nothing short of beautiful. I look forward to reading more of his works.

As a boy of about ten, I saw the movie, "Conrack," based on Pat Conroy's book, "The Water Is Wide." That's when I became a lifelong fan of Pat's. I've since become a sports broadcaster, and when Pat's book, "My Losing Season" was published, I was working at Madison Square Garden Network in New York City.

He was scheduled to do an interview with me, which I arranged to happen on the court at The World's Most Famous Arena. Unfortunately, Pat took ill and was unable to keep our appointment. I was so disappointed. I got married two years ago, and recently re-watched Conrack for the umpteenth time, introducing it to my wife, Shari.

Of course, I told her all about Pat's impact on me, and that time I came so close to meeting him.

I spent 4 years in NJ-ROTC in high school and my first Conroy books were The Lords of Discipline and My Losing Season.. After reading the Lords of Discipline I knew then and there I wanted to be a Citadel man just as Conroy was and just like Will McClean was at the Carolina Military Institute in the book. I pursued this dream because of Conroy's book inspiring me.

I attended leadership school there and applied for college to be in the corps of cadets now while I was rejected due to not having a second language I remained and still remain a supporter of the college because both Pat Conroy and the Citadel taught me a lot about growing up and being both my self and "a man". I'm thankful that I discovered Conroy and his books and stories.