If you are someone who loves outdoor sports such as hunting and fishing, chances are you have met or spoken with Patrick WileyPatrick has worked in various outdoor stores in our community for 30 years and currently works at The Outdoor Depot. The Gainesville resident is well known in our area as the best archery technician in the business. He has been married to Renee for 30 years and the couple has three children; Jordan, Amber and Clay.
Renee bought Patrick his first bow when he was 18, and he says, “I wouldn’t be the man I am if it wasn’t for her.”
We want to thank Patrick for sharing this sweet story with us and for answering our questions about his life here in Hall County and his love for all things outdoors.

Question: What inspired you to work in the outdoor industry?
Answer: “The biggest thing was my love for the outdoors and hunting. Basically, I tried to combine two interests. I was hunting and fishing as a young man and an opportunity came up to get into the outdoor industry when I started to work at Satterfields Sporting Goods.”
Q: How long have you been in this business?
A: “Twenty-seven plus years.”
Q: How long have you been an archery tech?
A: “I’ve been doing that the whole time. I shot archery competitively for 12 to 14 years and then when I got out of that I learned a lot from going to the different classes and updating different certifications. I have worked on pretty much everything out there as far as major manufacturers.”
Q: How long have you lived and worked in Hall County?
A: “I have lived here my whole life, 50 years. And I have worked here for 35 plus.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: “I would love to take my wife to The Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. We are getting No. 3 in college so we are working towards that.”
Q: What do you love most about what you do?
A: “Same thing that you enjoy, the good people that I get to meet and the diversity that we get to see. There’s good and bad in everything but you make a lot of good contacts and you get to meet people you would have otherwise not met and those relationships build. That’s the best thing about it.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “Even though we are growing rapidly, we are still a community. Gainesville does a good job at preserving history.”
Q: What would you say separates you from the big box stores?
A: “It’s all personal service. The hands on, the knowledge, and the personal service. The box stores can’t touch that at all. We are able to compete based on that alone.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “Traveling, seeing Europe, Australia, and Switzerland. Places that I love that are outside. I love seeing the outdoors. I want to do an Alaskan cruise one day. My wife would love the beach, but look at me, am I going to the beach? They call me ‘Powder.’”
Q: What is your favorite kind of music?
A: “You know me, I am just strictly Country. Renee and me when to Chastain to see REO Speedwagon and some of them.”
Q: What former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County?
A: “Big G (it was like a local version of K-Mart). They had everything, clothing, hardware, sporting good. The K-Mart of the day. That’s where I met my wife, Renee.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “It’s home.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?
A: “Gotta keep working, and maybe with some grandkids.”
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “I love to look at art. Cool outdoor art, that’s why I want to travel.”
Q: What are three words or phrases that come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: “Renee, Love, Kids.” 
Interview by Ricky Lewallen, Norton Realtor and member of the Abernathy Cochran Real Estate Group
The Faces of Hall County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured please email babernathy@gonorton.com or rlewallen@gonorton.com.