RIP Pat Gazzola of The Catfish Hole

[ImHogginIt]

https://twitter.com/jefflongUA/status/893958194380365825

http://www.nwahomepage.com/news/owner-of-the-catfish-hole-pat-gazzola-dies-at-68/784147982

[ricepig]

Yep, sad day, Pat was a great Razorback fan.

[Mr. Porkleone]

Sad. I can't believe this. He was always so nice to us when we were at his restaurant. Was his sick or fighting a illness.

[Science Fiction Greg]

Sad. I can't believe this. He was always so nice to us when we were at his restaurant. Was his sick or fighting a illness.

He had been horribly sick for a while, yes.

[ricepig]

He had been horribly sick for a while, yes.

Yeah, been in hospice for a while.

[TomasPistola]

I still remember the Roy D Mercer bit with Pat about the stolen hushpuppy recipe. Prayers to the family.

[Danimal]

Pat was one of my dads oldest and closest friends. Rest in peace sir.

[jbcarol]

The Catfish Hole in Fayetteville, Ark. has become one of Bret Bielema's favorite places to eat since his arrival in 2013, with the Arkansas coach hosting his weekly radio show there.

Bielema had become close friends with the owner of the establishment, Pat Gazolla, who passed away Saturday. Bielema took time to honor Gazolla on his Twitter feed.

https://twitter.com/BretBielema/status/893963356763193344

https://twitter.com/CoachTimHorton/status/893973118758391808

[ATU HOG]

Cool story on Pat from when I was in college in 2012

We walked into the Catfish Hole to eat dinner one night and noticed they had some recruits in.  I asked Pat if we could go in and watch, he was all about us being there.  We sat down and enjoyed the night called the hogs, ate hush puppies, and sang the fight song all night.  Afterward I thanked him for letting us sit in there and be a part of it, as we were all huge razorback fans.  We exchanged numbers and he said anytime I wanted to come to a recruiting night, I was more than welcomed.  He loved how loud and rowdy we were, more so he loved how much we loved the hogs.  So every recruiting night, Pat would call me and we'd have a table there.  Truly one of the coolest experiences I had in college was going to recruiting nights at the catfish hole and being a part of the family. 

One time after the event, I asked Pat if I could take him out for lunch one day and just talk Razorback Athletics.  We met up one afternoon at the Catfish Hole and he told me to pick whatever I wanted to eat.  We sat there for a couple hours talking about the athletic programs, things he knew and didn't know.  Really was a cool day, I found out a lot of things about the Razorbacks that day.  I was truly appreciative for him and still am till this day for him taking the time out of his day to sit and talk to a die-hard razorback fan who was still in college like myself.

Woo Pig Pat
Woo Pig

[DeltaBoy]

Prayers sent for his family and friends! Rest in Peace Pat!

[thebignasty]

Cool story on Pat from when I was in college in 2012

We walked into the Catfish Hole to eat dinner one night and noticed they had some recruits in.  I asked Pat if we could go in and watch, he was all about us being there.  We sat down and enjoyed the night called the hogs, ate hush puppies, and sang the fight song all night.  Afterward I thanked him for letting us sit in there and be a part of it, as we were all huge razorback fans.  We exchanged numbers and he said anytime I wanted to come to a recruiting night, I was more than welcomed.  He loved how loud and rowdy we were, more so he loved how much we loved the hogs.  So every recruiting night, Pat would call me and we'd have a table there.  Truly one of the coolest experiences I had in college was going to recruiting nights at the catfish hole and being a part of the family. 

One time after the event, I asked Pat if I could take him out for lunch one day and just talk Razorback Athletics.  We met up one afternoon at the Catfish Hole and he told me to pick whatever I wanted to eat.  We sat there for a couple hours talking about the athletic programs, things he knew and didn't know.  Really was a cool day, I found out a lot of things about the Razorbacks that day.  I was truly appreciative for him and still am till this day for him taking the time out of his day to sit and talk to a die-hard razorback fan who was still in college like myself.

Woo Pig Pat
Woo Pig

This is a great story. Thanks for sharing.

[longtimeHogfan]

I hated to hear that.  Pat always had a smile and kind word for you when you came in.  You were welcomed, he was glad you were there and told you so.  He was a great fan.  I'll miss him. 

[Karma]

Cool story on Pat from when I was in college in 2012

We walked into the Catfish Hole to eat dinner one night and noticed they had some recruits in.  I asked Pat if we could go in and watch, he was all about us being there.  We sat down and enjoyed the night called the hogs, ate hush puppies, and sang the fight song all night.  Afterward I thanked him for letting us sit in there and be a part of it, as we were all huge razorback fans.  We exchanged numbers and he said anytime I wanted to come to a recruiting night, I was more than welcomed.  He loved how loud and rowdy we were, more so he loved how much we loved the hogs.  So every recruiting night, Pat would call me and we'd have a table there.  Truly one of the coolest experiences I had in college was going to recruiting nights at the catfish hole and being a part of the family. 

One time after the event, I asked Pat if I could take him out for lunch one day and just talk Razorback Athletics.  We met up one afternoon at the Catfish Hole and he told me to pick whatever I wanted to eat.  We sat there for a couple hours talking about the athletic programs, things he knew and didn't know.  Really was a cool day, I found out a lot of things about the Razorbacks that day.  I was truly appreciative for him and still am till this day for him taking the time out of his day to sit and talk to a die-hard razorback fan who was still in college like myself.

Woo Pig Pat
Woo Pig

That's awesome.

[trippigs]

Pat had an earlier career that I bet most on here don't know about.....he was an oil/gas landman.  In the early 1980's my company hired him to secure some oil/gas leases on prospects I developed in Arkansas and Oklahoma. He was very good at this as well as he was with his restaurant.....one of the good ones. He will be missed.

[bwbcpa]

Pat had an earlier career that I bet most on here don't know about.....he was an oil/gas landman.  In the early 1980's my company hired him to secure some oil/gas leases on prospects I developed in Arkansas and Oklahoma. He was very good at this as well as he was with his restaurant.....one of the good ones. He will be missed.

During the '80's, I had a client (now deceased) that did a lot of legal work for the oil/gas industry. Through him, I met Pat, but our meetings were always by phone, never in person. In 2012, I finally approached him in the restaurant and introduced myself in person. He remembered talking to me those many years ago and was very gracious.

[Hogeration]

Took my oldest daughter to visit the school this weekend.  I have never eaten at the catfish hole but have tried several times.  Well, Friday night, I finally was able to with my family.  It was great.  I was saddened to read the next day that the owner had passed.  Great experience even without the recruits.  Took a peak at the recruiting side before I left.

[Cinco de Hogo]

Sorry to hear about this but reading this thread it should explain to all the haters why The Catfidh Hole was such a great place for Razorback recruiting.  How many place are there in NWA that could create a true to the bone Razorback spirit?  I bet not many and even fewer that could handle the rowdiness.

[buldozer]

Sorry to hear about this but reading this thread it should explain to all the haters why The Catfidh Hole was such a great place for Razorback recruiting.  How many place are there in NWA that could create a true to the bone Razorback spirit?  I bet not many and even fewer that could handle the rowdiness.

Exactly! I have been there for a recruiting reception and my ears were ringing afterwards!

[Stephen Greene]

very sorry - God bless

[TebowHater]

Very good article by Otis. SIAP. Terribly sad situation. An elective surgery that ultimately led to his death. So sad.

http://arkansas.247sports.com/Bolt/Football-season-wont-be-the-same-now-without-Pat-105840180