In the journey of life, few embody the spirit of determination and joy quite like Craig Pardue. He saved money and bought his first horse at 12 and his first car at 14. By 18 he had an eclectic resume which included a list where he mowed lawns, chopped or picked cotton, hauled hay, broke in horses, became a shoe salesman, worked as a photographer for the Alvarado Bulletin owned by his father, tended to various duties for the Sinclair Gas Station another family-owned business where he also jump-started Lyndon B. Johnson's car, supervised as a camp counselor, taught hundreds to swim as a lifeguard, played football, baseball, basketball, and ran track. When a college student at UTEP, TCU, and Baylor University he worked as a librarian, busboy, a local TV news reporter plus involved in collegiate football and track. Craig joined the fraternity Nu Alpha Tau Epsilon where he met several lifelong friends. There were suspicions that he also belonged to the NoZe Brotherhood but only the NoZe knows, you know? A proud Baylor University graduate, he cultivated a long, respectful, and successful career in politics, where he mentored others in not just the art of lobbying but the importance of living life. He married Greta, his steadfast partner for 48 years, their story read like an epic novel where they celebrated victories big and small. Together they built their greatest accomplishment: their family. Craig gave his everything to his family each waking moment of his life. His pride and joy were "his girls" and his love for them was unconditional. He favored fast cars, fast boats, faster motorcycles, and the fastest Ford trucks. His hobbies were hunting, fishing, anything that involved football and Classic Rock (which he boasted to have seen in concert all the Greatest Rock Bands from the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's) Craig's legacy lives on through his wife-Greta, daughter-Leia, granddaughter-Katalina, sister-Dana, beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless others. He claimed that in this Game of Life, he won. Craig Pardue's motto was, "I'd rather be lucky than good." Indeed, he was both.