The City of Odessa has proclaimed October 3rd to be Patrick Clay Rodriguez Day, honoring his contributions to non-profit youth sports and the revitalization of Downtown Odessa. The announcement was made by the city in a Facebook post yesterday.
According to his obituary, Rodriguez was a passionate sports enthusiast who dedicated his time to coaching youth baseball and football in Odessa. He was deeply involved in giving back to the youth sports community in the city. However, Rodriguez tragically passed away on June 29, 2020, at the age of 31 due to complications from Covid-19.
Despite his untimely death, Rodriguez's dream of opening a sports bar became a reality. Just a year before his passing, he recruited his brother and a close friend to help him bring his vision to life. Although he was unable to witness the opening of the bar, his brother and friend named it Patrick Clay's Icon Tavern in his honor.
The City of Odessa and Downtown Odessa, Inc. played a crucial role in ensuring that the Icon Tavern was established in downtown Odessa. The city had been working on enhancing the downtown area for some time, and it was vital for them that the tavern's owners did not abandon the project after Rodriguez's death. Lawanna Lambert, the executive director of Downtown Odessa Inc., emphasized the significance of the downtown section, stating that it belongs to everyone and is not limited to any specific area of the city.
The proclamation of Patrick Clay Rodriguez Day is a fitting tribute to a young man who made a lasting impact on the youth sports community in Odessa and played a role in the city's downtown revitalization efforts.