Patrick Cross, born April 4, 1960, is a graduate of the SHS Class of 1978. Pat participated track and cross-country all four years, earning three varsity letters in each sport. While participating in track, Pat was named captain during his junior and senior years. At the NCIC meet his junior year, Pat set the school and meet record, with a time of 9:16.2 to capture first place in the 3200m. Placing first in the 3200m with a time of 9:19.4, and in the 1600 with a time of 4:21.4 at the sectional meet, Pat qualified for the state meet in both events. At the state meet, Pat ran the 3200 with a time of 9:24.26, finishing in eighth place. The track team ultimately finished their season undefeated in dual meets, capturing the district and conference championships along the way. Selected for the All-Conference team his senior year, Pat once again set the school and sectional meet record of 9:14.82 in the 3200m to qualify for the state meet. Furthermore, he qualified for the state meet in the 1600m with a time of 4:18.84. During the state meet prelims, Pat ran the 1600m at a time of 4:15.17 breaking his previous school record. He finished in sixth place overall at the state meet in the 1600m. Serving as captain of the cross-country team his junior year, Pat received SHS's MVP award both his junior and senior year. Pat was also honored by being named to the All-Conference team at the conclusion of his senior cross-country season. Upon graduation from SHS, Pat continued his education and running career at Louisiana Tech University. At the conference track meet, Pat ran the 1500m in 3:48 and the 1600m in 4:02 to set two new school and conference records. His senior year, he was elected as captain of both the track and cross-country team. Pat was also named to the All-Southland Conference team each year he was in attendance at the school. Pat moved to Fort Yukon, Alaska after graduating in 1982, where he became a Baptist missionary. In 1983, he ran in the 26 mile Alaskan Equinox Marathon in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he succeeded in winning the event. In doing so, he set a new Equinox record of two hours, forty-two minutes, and twenty seconds.