Pat Zachry

Patrick Paul Zachry, known as Pat, passed away April 4, 2024, in Austin, Texas, at the age of 71 following a lengthy illness.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco, Texas.

Pat Zachry was born in Richmond, Texas, on April 24, 1952, to Wallace Barton Zachry and Cora (Schulze) Zachry. He grew up in Waco, attended Parkdale Elementary, Tennyson Junior High, and graduated from Richfield High School in 1970. Growing up in Waco, Pat was active in sports - football, basketball, and baseball - and he cherished his childhood experiences in Waco, and the friends he made, many of which remained his closest friends throughout his life.

Pat was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 19th round of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft. He spent five years in the Reds’ minor league system playing on teams in Florida, Canada, South Dakota, and Indianapolis during that time. In April 1976, Pat earned his spot on the Reds’ Big-League club as a starter. He went on to win the National League Rookie of the Year honor with the Cincinnati Reds in 1976 and helped Cincinnati’s “Big Red Machine” sweep the entire postseason on their way to the World Series championship against the New York Yankees. That same year, Pat met Sharron McKethan, also a native of Waco, in Houston on a blind date in the Astrodome. It was love at first sight for Pat. Pat and Sharron married in June 1977 shortly after he was traded to the New York Mets and began their adventure in professional baseball all the while maintaining their close family ties in Waco. Pat would go on to pitch for the Mets for 6 seasons, during which he was selected to the National League All-Star roster in 1978. Pat was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers following the 1982 season and transitioned to a relief pitcher and closer. He would go on to play two seasons with the Dodgers and retired in 1985 after playing with the Philadelphia Phillies. Pat would go on to coach in the Dodgers’ minor league system as a pitching coach following his retirement from playing in the MLB. Pat rounded out his playing days in 1989 with the St. Petersburg Pelicans in the Senior Professional Baseball Association winning the league championship.

Pat and Sharron had two children, Josh and Meredith, and made their home in the Woodway area. Pat was a dedicated father, husband, brother, and son to his family. He was also a dedicated coach and mentor to many young people in the Waco community which he cherished. Pat was proud that he could give back to the Waco community. He was active in baseball. camps, individual lessons, and coaching his son’s baseball teams. In retirement, Pat enjoyed playing golf, attending MLB Alumni charity events, playing in ‘Old Timer’ MLB games, and participating in card signing events. Pat was inducted into the Waco ISD Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.

Pat is survived by his son, Josh and wife, Ashley; daughter, Meredith and husband, Kevin Knight; grandchildren, Davis, Beau, Tyson, and Hudson Zachry and Nora and Wyatt Knight; sister, Lynn Reiman and husband, Lt. Col. John; niece, Marra McElroy.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in his name to the “Pat Zachry Scholarship Fund” c/o The Waco Foundation, 1224 Austin Avenue, Suite 100, Waco, Texas 76701.

The family invites you to email a message or memory at familyzachry@gmail.com.