Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) introduced a resolution honoring the life and legacy of the late Patrick Gottsch, the founder and former President of Rural Media Group, Inc.

“For decades, Patrick brought a visionary perspective to informing rural America and recognized the importance of amplifying the voices of farmers and ranchers across the country,” said Chairman Newhouse. “Through a work ethic second to none and an understanding of the issues that matter in rural communities, Patrick built a media presence that’s going to be felt for years to come. He was a pioneer in rural broadcasting. As a third-generation farmer myself, I’ve personally felt the impact of Patrick’s work. This resolution honors Patrick’s life and contributions for which rural America is forever grateful.”

Cosponsors: Executive Vice Chair Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Vice Chair Adrian Smith (NE-03), House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15), and Reps. David Valadao (CA-22), Mike Bost (IL-12), Mike Flood (NE-01), Harriet Hageman (WY-AL), Buddy Carter (GA-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Jim Moylan (GU-AL).

Biography:

Patrick Gottsch was born and raised in Elkhorn, Nebraska. A product of his family’s farm and cattle-producing operation, Patrick understood the value that rural communities bring to the fabric of our nation. After graduating from Sam Houston State University in Texas, Patrick worked as a commodity broker. He started E.T. Installations which was a company that sold and installed C-band home satellites ultimately becoming the nation’s largest privately-owned home satellite retailer in 1987. After these experiences, Patrick dedicated himself to creating a 24-hour rural television network and in 2000, Rural Free Delivery Television (RFD-TV) was successfully launched on DISH Network. In 2017, Patrick launched the first 24-hour network dedicated to western sports and the western lifestyle – The Cowboy Channel. On May 18, 2024, at the age of 70, Patrick passed away. He leaves behind three daughters and his wife Angie.