04/08/2024
Such a lovely NDT tribute Sherry Hall made to J.W. Patterson at Emory this weekend.
“JW Patterson taught debate and forensics for almost sixty years, including nine years as Director of Debate and Forensics at Muskogee Central High School, Muskogee, Oklahoma; one year as Director of Debate at the University of Arizona, and 40 years as Director of Debate and Forensics at the University of Kentucky, where he was a tenured professor in the College of Communication and Information. He was an elite debate coach, fielding top ten teams in four different decades, a national champion, Copeland award winners, and six NDT top speakers. He was a passionate educator, and, through the creation of tournaments like the “Tournament of Champions” and “Kentucky Round Robin,” he became one of the architects of the modern forensics ecosystem.
At the memorial service held for JW at Spindletop in February, one of his surviving brothers told the story of what “JW” stands for. He said that this was the story as told by his mother. She had given birth to JW at home. A doctor came by to gather the information for his birth certificate and to make sure that he was okay. One of the pieces of information that the doctor needed was his name. His mother looked at his father and then told the doctor that they were still discussing it, and asked if they could have a little more time. The doctor said that he needed something to put on the birth certificate, but that they could go back and change it later. She said that they were in agreement that his initials would be JW, so he could put that on the birth certificate for now. Later, when they decided on the name, the birth certificate had already been filed and the process for changing the name seemed too daunting, so they just left it as JW. The name they would have changed it to was Jethro Wallace.
JW recruited me to come to UK in 1986 to coach the team while pursuing a graduate degree in International Relations. I already knew of his hospitality and generosity before joining the team. I had a front row seat, (or actually a second row seat) in the van rides to tournaments listening to the mix tapes he made. I think I was the only person who actually liked the one with 100 versions of Amazing Grace. Over the years, JW was always kind to me and interested in what was happening in my life.
Many people posted tributes to JW talking about the profound impact he had upon them as coaches, how he took the time to make people feel that they mattered to him, and the impact he had on shaping both college and high school debate. Aaron Kall said “Other than my immediate family, no one has had a larger impact on my life than JW Patterson.” Darren Elliot said, “He made us not only feel welcome, but a part of his world.” Trevor Wells said: “He wrung every last drop outta this game of life for 95(!) years.” Jeff Leon wrote: “It’s hard to be sad with a life lived as long and with as much gusto as JW lived his. It’s something to be celebrated.” JW was 95 years young.”
03/01/2022
01/29/2022
01/29/2022