Fueled by grit and gratitude, Pat Quarles completes his 12th Texas MS 150

Clemson University alumnus Pat Quarles prepared for the physical rigors of riding more than 100 miles across Texas in near 90-degree heat over two days the only way anyone could– saddle time, and lots of it.

Quarles pedaled hundreds of miles over more than two months so he would be in shape to cover the distance over two consecutive days, first from Houston to La Grange, then on to the finish at College Station.

He did it, completing his 12th Texas MS 150 on April 27, an exceptional accomplishment for anyone but especially for Quarles, who managed to balance training with a demanding career.

Some of the skills that fueled that career also applied to the ride, he said.

“The biggest connection is an appreciation for having a plan and executing it with your team,” he said. “You can’t do this by yourself, much like work.”

Quarles, the youngest of four boys, came to Clemson from Springfield, Tennessee, never having seen calculus and not knowing a single soul.

But Quarles said he received the support he needed and quickly integrated into the Clemson Family with the help of his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha.

Quarles graduated with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering in 1989, Clemson’s centennial year. His name is etched into the sidewalk near Fort Hill, along with those of his classmates.

Quarles later attended Northwestern University for a Master of Business Administration. He went on to a distinguished career, ultimately serving as a top executive in some of the world’s largest chemical companies before retiring in May 2022.

Along the way, Quarles and his wife, Maryellen, have raised two children, Will and Clare, both now adults.

In recent years, Quarles has returned to Clemson, helping guide the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering as an advisory board member. He has also established a scholarship for students who are in the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences, from out of state and from underrepresented groups.

For Quarles, it’s part of a broader commitment to giving back.

Quarles said his motivation for participating in the Texas MS 150 has changed over the years. It started as a way to stay in shape for mountain climbing, but in recent years has shifted to fund-raising to support the National MS Society’s mission.

Quarles said the day after completing the ride that he was just short of his goal to raise $10,000 but that he expected to hit it. That did not include the matching dollars he planned to contribute out of his own pocket, he said. He welcomed all Tigers to contribute here.

Quarles said one of the annual highlights of the ride comes at the end when several of the participants– some with MS– assemble to cross the finish line together.

The ride may have concluded, but his investment in the greater good hasn’t. Quarles plans to support the college’s Engineering Leadership minor by sharing his wealth of business experience with students.

And staying in touch with Clemson will soon get a little easier. He and his wife are planning to move to Asheville so they will be within a couple of hours of campus

Whether it’s riding across Texas or returning to Clemson, it’s clear Quarles supports good causes– and is in it for the long haul.