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'Net sensation 'Jake from H-E-B' is also Jake from UHCL
January 18, 2019 | Jim Townsend
University of Houston-Clear Lake sophomore Jake Pate (above), who works as a cashier
at H-E-B in Lake Jackson, became an internet phenom after he paid for a customer’s
groceries just before Christmas. His act of kindness was captured in a photo taken
by another customer, Ryan Birdsong, who posted it to Facebook. So far, the post has
garnered more than 166,000 likes, 19,000 comments and 60,000 shares. Pate, who is
studying mechanical engineering at UH-Clear Lake, has been interviewed by local and
national media.
The average Joe or Jane may only get 15 minutes of fame. Not true for “Jake from H-E-B,” whose act of kindness went viral just before Christmas. Three weeks later, the unassuming University of Houston-Clear Lake sophomore is still taking media calls and dealing with internet trolls.
Jake Pate lives in Clute, Texas, and works part-time as a cashier at a H-E-B grocery store in nearby Lake Jackson. Two days before Christmas, a customer found herself a few dollars short of cash. Pate pulled out his own debit card, swiped it through the card reader, and told the woman, “Merry Christmas.”
Ryan Birdsong was in line a few customers behind the exchange. Birdsong was so impressed with Pate’s actions that he snapped the young cashier’s photo and posted it to Facebook. “Just trying to give him some acknowledgement,” the Lake Jackson Realtor said. “And it kind of went crazy from there.”
Pate became “Jake from H-E-B,” internet phenom.
As of Jan. 16, Birdsong’s pre-Christmas post has had more than 166,000 likes, 19,000 comments and 60,000 shares. Pate has been interviewed by local newspapers, TV and radio and national news organizations including People magazine. A private foundation gave him a $500 scholarship.
“People are still commenting,” Pate said, looking at Facebook from his phone. “The last one was 23 hours ago.”
He said he kept track of comments because “they were making me a little nervous. Technically we aren’t supposed to do that. People were saying, ‘You’re going to get fired.’”
He wasn’t fired. His managers and H-E-B corporate have been supportive, and he still gets playful ribbings from co-workers. “I was never one to be front and center. I think I can handle it, but I never sought it out. Everyone’s being so nice in the comments, and every one I’ve met and talked to, so it turned into a really good thing.”
Mostly.
Some Facebookers weren’t so kind. Some claimed the incident was faked. Others took the opportunity to air grievances. “I actually had one comment that was kind of funny,” Pate said. “This guy said that ‘Jake hooked up with my girl when we were still together.’ I’ve been with my girlfriend since the 8th grade. So I replied to his comment. I said, ‘I’ve been with my girl for over six years. Try again.’ And then my girlfriend commented, ‘LOL.’”
Asked what inspired his generosity, he said it was the customer. “I feel like she deserves just as much recognition, because she actually paid for the lady in front of her. That's why she didn’t have enough money for her own groceries. I couldn't let her not get her groceries after doing what she did. So I just did it myself.”
Pate received his associate’s degree from Brazosport College. At UH-Clear Lake, he is in the first cohort of students to pursue a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering, a degree program that launched this spring semester. For more about the program, visit www.uhcl.edu/mechanical-engineering.
Pate hopes to eventually get a master’s degree in aerospace and work at making space flight safer and more practical. Look for Jake at NASA, or Jake at SpaceX.