Honoring a Local Hero: Stadium Naming Preserves Patrick Queen’s Legacy in His Home Parish
Guy Mistretta felt the moment called for something special.
Having coached Patrick Queen at Livonia High School for three years—the place where Queen’s journey truly began—Mistretta understood what a powerful symbol this could be. Queen has since gone on to a standout career, including a national championship at LSU and now a key role in the NFL.
Queen’s No. 8 was already retired by Livonia High. But to elevate the tribute further, the local school board decided to name the football field at the Parish STEM Academy after him. The dedication ceremony drew former coaches, including Ed Orgeron, and Queen’s parents, Dwayne and Mary Sue. During the event, Mistretta remarked, “You start naming stuff—that’s a big deal. It takes a guy like Pat. He’s a role model. He loves where he’s from, and that’s always going to be home for him.”
Though his football journey has taken him far from home—first to LSU, then to being a first-round NFL draft pick and now a starter with the Pittsburgh Steelers—Queen has never forgotten his roots. Born in Ventress (a small town of fewer than 1,500 people) in Pointe Coupee Parish, he continues to give back to his home region.
Among his efforts: owning property locally, launching a literacy initiative at his former elementary school, and recently opening a fishing and tackle shop in New Roads. “They see him around town,” said Livonia’s coach, Khalil Thomas. “He comes back, the kids see him train, he talks with us. He just gives back.”
Because Pittsburgh had a bye week, Queen was able to attend and be honored in person on the renovated stadium’s field. “This—coming from a small place—I never dreamed of something this big,” he said. “I hope moments like this motivate younger kids to know they can do it, too.”
Before the dedication, the STEM Academy’s stadium had sat unused since the closure of a local high school in 2014. The renovations included re-sodding the natural grass field, installing new bleachers, updating the scoreboard, and improving the sound system. With multiple middle schools in the parish, the stadium will host a range of games—including those for Livonia High, around a 25–30 minute drive away—and be used for soccer as well.
Thomas indicated his team might play all of its games next season at the new venue. “We played our spring game there—it had a cool atmosphere,” he said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s Livonia or STEM kids—it’s a stadium. They’ll play.” Thomas, who’s a year older than Queen and competed against him in youth leagues, also played at Catholic High under Hall of Fame coach Dale Weiner. He followed Queen’s career closely and was part of discussions around honoring him at a higher level than just retiring his jersey.
Queen’s high school career at Livonia was impressive. In his freshman year, he played special teams on a squad that reached the Class 3A state finals. His sophomore year brought a bigger role as Livonia captured the Class 3A title. He became a dual-threat player, earning first-team all-state honors on offense and defense as a junior, and repeating dual all-state selection during his senior year with standout stats on both sides of the ball.
His natural leadership and versatility were clear to coaches early on. As a four-star recruit, he was courted by multiple colleges. He ultimately opted for LSU, where defensive coordinator Dave Aranda (now head coach at Baylor) recognized his potential at linebacker. Queen made contributions on special teams and defense, and his performance in an SEC game vs. Alabama—where he pieced together nine tackles and a sack—was a defining moment.
In the National Championship win over Clemson, Queen recorded eight tackles and 2½ tackles for loss. He then declared for the NFL draft, foregoing his senior year, and was selected 28th overall by the Baltimore Ravens in 2020.
In the NFL, Queen’s consistency and impact became evident. He notched over 100 tackles in multiple seasons, earned Pro Bowl honors, and made All-Pro selections. After entering free agency, he signed a three-year, $41 million contract with the Steelers. In 2024, he led his team with 129 tackles—the most ever by a Steeler since 1994—and secured another Pro Bowl nod.
Queen stands tall in NFL history, with never having missed a start in 88 career games. “It’s crazy knowing kids will play on a field bearing my name,” he reflected. “Growing up here, seeing past players was motivation. Now I get to be one of the faces kids look up to.”
Mistretta and Thomas both agreed: no one represents their community better. He is humble, hardworking, and connected to the parish. “If you’re going to pick somebody, pick a good citizen and role model,” Mistretta said. Thomas added, “He deserves this. He’s been with us every step. As a football coach, who else would you want influencing your players?”
