Houston Radio's Matt Patrick Loses Battle To Cancer

HOUSTON, TX — The AM airwaves in the city are muted this morning, the day after 740 KTRH confirmed the death of Matt Patrick, one of Houston's most popular personalities. Patrick, who succumbed to esophageal cancer on Sunday at home surrounded by his family, was 58.

Just this past week, the conservative host announced that he had ended his treatments for cancer:

"On Houston's Morning News this morning, Matt revealed he has exhausted all options and has discontinued cancer treatments," the station's Facebook page read. "Matt and all of us at NewsRadio 740 KTRH, and the iHeartMedia family, thank you all for your constant love and support during this difficult time."

"There will be no more fighting, there will be no more going back to the hospital. It'll be up to God, whatever God decides to do that's what I will do," Patrick told listeners on July 5. "I also understand that because of that I have to take the high road, I have to say this is what we're going to do. If this works that's great but if it doesn't work and at some point it won't then I'll just say you know thank you for everything."

Patrick, whose strong radio voice had been reduced at times to a whisper by cancer treatments, was not shy about his political beliefs, and often debated individuals of a more liberal bent, including local activist Quanell X.

On Monday morning, his colleagues at KTRH remembered him in various ways, including on Facebook.

His family, however, was his focus, according to this who knew him well. In a statement released on Sunday, KTRH colleague Michael Berry discussed Patrick's love for his wife and children.

"My goodness, if everybody loved their family like Matt Patrick loved his, the world would be a better place," Berry said.

Patrick had been at KTRH for six years, and had previously worked at stations in Akron, Cincinnati, and Cleveland Ohio. He had been open about his battle with alcoholism, and was never hesitant to share his personal struggles with his listeners.

"As a veteran of radio, he delivered award-winning broadcasts year after year that embody the very foundation on which our country was founded: God, guns, country," KTRH said in a statement. "Matt deeply believed in protecting and defending the Constitution and all that it stands for just as our Founding Fathers would have wanted and expected."

Patrick is survived by his wife, Paula, and three children, Jake, Alexandra and Alanna. Funeral arrangements are pending.

— Image: Matt Patrick (KTRH Facebook page)