2013 Mr & Mrs Trail Days, Tim & Patty Rich
What were you doing before beginning this Q&A?
Tim- playing Tennis
Patty- watching The Voice, scanning Facebook
Tell us a little bit about your family…
Patty- We have 3 adult children Christopher, Joshua and Heather. Josh is getting married in July to his high school sweetheart Sara!!! Heather is married to Clayton and is expecting her 2nd child a boy also in July!!! They also have Brooklyn Grace who is 2 and such a cutie. Christopher is married to Jessica they have Erin who is 3 and we adore her in every single way!!!, they also have Paul who will be 2 in June!! Ahhh we really love our family.
Where were you born?
Patty- Oceanside, CA
Tim Salt Lake City Utah
How did you two meet?
Patty- Tim was an assistant manager at McDonalds in Las Vegas, I was a crew trainer at the store he worked at. He didn’t think I was very good at my job and it created tension, I came when he wasn’t there and learned the Grill, he eventually let me work Grill but he really didn’t want to.
Where did you live before moving to Owasso?
Patty- we both grew up in Las Vegas, moved to Denver after we married, then moved to Tulsa in 1986, I was in culture shock after Las Vegas it took some getting used to for me.
What brought you to Owasso and how long have you lived here?
Patty- We bought our first McD’s in Tulsa in 1989, then in 1995 we had an opportunity to purchase Owasso, Claremore, Catoosa. We lived in South Tulsa until Heather graduated from high school then moved here and we have loved every day here.
What was your first job?
Tim- mowing lawns.
Patty- My first job I mean where I made money was pulling weeds at businesses in Las Vegas during the summer with 3 of my friends. We got paid $100.00 a week. Ugh it was way hard, and when the McD’s opened up down the street we all went there. We made more money and it was air conditioned.
What is the best part of your job?
Tim- meeting people. I have met so many interesting people in the lobby’s of our McDonald’s.
Patty- oh my gosh I absolutely love all the high school kids who work with us. Working with them is very fun, they keep me on my toes. I love it. I believe God gave us this business to be servants, to serve Yes that’s the best part.
What is the worst part of your job?
Tim- never being off. Owning a business is a 24/7 job
Patty- Oh No!! I have to be honest I cringe at any pictures, Tim loves it so we make a good team, I tend to be in the back with the crew.
Patty’s favorite story about Tim
Ah this is so easy. We were on a family vacation on our way to Las Vegas or coming back and Tim and I got into a heated discussion about something. we couldn’t agree and I asked him ” what makes you think you are always right” he quickly responded with “Because I am the Determiner”. Oh my word!!! I laughed so hard I could barely contain myself. The kids still to this day if they get into a heated discussion with him say ” Oh wait I forgot you’re the Determiner” I am laughing right now over the whole concept in his mind of what exactly “The Determiner” is.
Tim’s Favorite story about Patty
She would give you the shirt off her back. She doesn’t place to much value on things. I have heard her say to our children all of their lives ” it’s the memories that matter in life.”, ” it’s about making someone else happy. Patty came to me one Christmas and said “our kids have so much, I want them to know Christmas is more about giving. I want to have a breakfast for people who otherwise wouldn’t have one.” What started as a very small thought has turned into such a huge blessing for not only our children it now includes most our managers and their families. To see the faces of the seniors and the children who come to the Christmas breakfast every year is all the Christmas we need. To share that morning with our managers and their families, to serve with them is a gift. That first year we served about 50. This last Christmas we served about 200.
If you were not running a McDonalds, what would you want to be doing?
Tim- playing baseball with the Yankees
Patty- I’d be a travel agent, seriously I love planning trips for people.
What is something most people don’t know about
you?
you?
Tim-that I love model trains.
Patty- oh I guess that I was a Pin Pal (mat maid) in high school. There’s not to much about wrestling I don’t know.
Do you have any hidden talents?
Tim- well if I said them they wouldn’t be hidden.
Patty- I sing, I was in Varsity Choir.
Soda, pop, or coke? Which one is correct?
Tim-I don’t get it I like coffee
Patty- coke
If you could be on one reality show, what would it
be?
be?
Tim- my life is a reality show
Patty-Big Brother
Patty-Big Brother
What is the last thing you Googled?
Tim- probably how to spell something
Patty- ha how to spell choir
Patty- ha how to spell choir
What chore do you absolutely hate doing?
Tim- housework, is that considered one chore?
Patty-anything in the heat!! I hate being hot!!
When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time?
Tim- bike riding, or tennis
Patty- this is a joke right!!! 30 minutes free!!! Probably, read.
What would you name the autobiography of your life?
Tim- Patty says “The Determiner”
Patty-“Thank-you for giving to the Lord, I am a life that was changed”
What story does your family always tell about you?
Tim- they would tell you “The Determiner”
Patty-I guess they would say I cry at the drop of a hat, and I laugh in movies so loud they want to move away from me.
How do you like to spend your spare time?
Tim- fishing, bike riding, or tennis
Patty- with the babies!! Erin, Brooklyn, and Paul
What is your favorite thing about living in Owasso?
Tim– I love the people, the schools, this is a great city to not only own a business, but to live as well. We feel very blessed to be in a community that values character and hard work.
Patty-The people in this town genuinely care about others. You don’t have to go far to find someone willing to help someone out. I am a part of a group of Christian ladies here called LYLAS (love ya like a sister) these women exemplify everything I have always wanted in my life. It’s a wonderful place to live.
If you know an Owasso resident (young or old) that would make a great “neighbor” to interview, send us their contact information. Email to [email protected].
