Still Running - Coach Patterson

Obituary from the KC Star-

NORRIS A. PATTERSON

Norris A. Patterson died May 10, 2000, at Liberty Hospital. Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, at Liberty Presbyterian Church, with visitation following the ceremony. Private burial will be prior to the service in Glenridge Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Patterson-Carmichael-Robertson Scholarship Fund at William Jewell College; Missouri Valley College; or the Fellowship of the Concerned, c/o Liberty Presbyterian Church.

Norris Patterson, the youngest of three brothers, all of whom became coaches, graduated from Odessa High School, where he played for his oldest brother Cecil, later a successful coach at Southeast High in Kansas City. At Odessa, Norris earned varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball, and track, and was elected president of the student body in his senior year. At Missouri Valley College, he played for two years for Coach Henri Godfriaux and two years for Coach Volney Ashford, both nationally prominent coaches. At Valley, he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball, and was elected captain of the football team in his senior year. After graduating from Valley with majors in biology and physical education, he became a junior high school teacher and coached in Trenton, MO, for two years and moved on to Marshall High as an assistant coach for three months before joining the U.S. Navy with the outbreak of World War II. He spent four years in the Navy, the last two as a gunnery officer in the European Area, and was discharged in 1946 as a lieutenant commander. Patterson's first head coaching job was at Excelsior Springs High School, where his football teams went 26-2-1 in three years. From Excelsior,he moved to Danville, IL, for one year, where the team went 8-1. In his first year at William Jewell College in Liberty, MO, the Cardinals went 8-1, winning the MCAU Championship for the first time in 10 years. In 18 years at William Jewell College in Liberty, MO, the Cardinals, under the leadership of Patterson and James Nelson, had an overall record of 134-33-9, including 13 championships and five second-place finishes.

From 1954 to 1958, Patterson pursued graduate study at Columbia University, New York, and was awarded an Ed.D. in 1958. In 1968, he retired from coaching and moved to U.S. International University in San Diego. He returned to Jewell in 1975 to assist in the fundraising and construction of the Mabee Center, and remained there until 1988. Patterson was elected to the NAIA Football Hall of Fame, the NACDA Athletic Directors Hall of Fame, the Missouri Valley College Athletic Hall-of-Fame, and was the Rockne Little All American Coach. In 1989, he was inducted into the William Jewell Hall of Distinguished Teachers and later to the William Jewell Hall-of-Fame. Principles which governed his philosophy of coaching included: (1) the importance of having fun when practicing and playing, (2) the game of football is built around speed, intelligence, and good character -- not size, (3) "If you can't afford to lose, you can't afford to play," and (4) "Practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect." He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Liberty, the Fellowship of the Concerned, and the Excelsior Springs Lions Club. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Dorothy; his daughter, Kathleen and her husband, John Morrow of Overland Park, KS; one sister, Geneva Hopper of Blue Springs; a brother, Ralph Patterson of Sun City, AZ; nephews, Jack and David Patterson; nieces, Patricia Coleman, Jane Brown, Susan Stanley, and their families. (Arrangements: Park Lawn Northland Chapel, 816-781-8228)

Memories of Dr. Norris Patterson

I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Patterson and his lovely wife at Manitou Springs the previous year. They were a true delight. Dr. Patterson was nothing but class and I consider myself fortunate to have met him and had to opportunity to learn a bit of the "Patterson" single wing from him. A tremendous teacher, coach and gentleman. My hope is that I can live my life to the fullest as Dr. Patterson did.
Dave Nance

I was so saddened to hear of Dr. Patterson's passing. He was such a kind soul-- he thought nothing of it to take me in and let me stay at his house when I was working on the documentary last year. Keep in mind, I had never met the man before the symposium. The single-wing community will not be the same with out him. Best wishes to his wonderful wife, Dorothy, and his family.
Steve Blahitka

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