| BAHS Hall of Fame |
Broken Arrow High School Athletics
R.D. Patterson
When R.D. Patterson was named Principal of Broken Arrow High School in 1927, he was
much more than an administrator. By the time he was selected as President of the Broken
Arrow Chamber of Commerce in 1966 he had proven that he was much more than a coach,
an educator and a businessman. Patterson was a vital cog in the Broken Arrow community
for more than half a century. And he left a legacy which continues today.
He taught science and math and was principal of the school from 1927 through 1931, during
the tenure of Superintendent C.S. Anderson. From 1904 through 1925, the school district
had had a dozen superintendents. When Patterson took over that post in 1933 he served for
the next 11 years before going into the real estate and insurance business in Broken Arrow.
He also made a huge impact on athletics in the community. Patterson coached football, both
boys and girls basketball, baseball and track. Although complete records from this era have
been hard to find, the Tigers twice tied for the Oil Valley Conference football championship
and in 1930 finished unbeaten in conference play. His 1930 girls basketball team was the
first from the school to win a tournament. His first baseball team finished 8 and 0 and the
track team won the Northeast Six meet.
His second girls basketball team tied for the conference championship and won the County
Tournament. Among the track stars he coached were Oliver Plant and Bob Bixler. And on
one of his first football teams was a young man named H.K. Ragsdale. Patterson later hired
Ragsdale as the head football coach at BAHS, and that led to Ragsdale hiring one of his
students – Joe Robinson – who followed him as head coach during a remarkable span of
success on the gridiron.
After leaving public education, Patterson remained very involved in community business and
activities. He was named to the Oklahoma Who’s Who in both 1935 and 1937. He served as
president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1966 and was later selected as Honorary Mayor
for Rooster Days. Even in his later years he remained a testament to good physical
conditioning and moral character.
Broken Arrow High School is proud to induct R.D. Patterson into its Athletic Hall of Fame.
When R.D. Patterson was named Principal of Broken Arrow High School in 1927, he was
much more than an administrator. By the time he was selected as President of the Broken
Arrow Chamber of Commerce in 1966 he had proven that he was much more than a coach,
an educator and a businessman. Patterson was a vital cog in the Broken Arrow community
for more than half a century. And he left a legacy which continues today.
He taught science and math and was principal of the school from 1927 through 1931, during
the tenure of Superintendent C.S. Anderson. From 1904 through 1925, the school district
had had a dozen superintendents. When Patterson took over that post in 1933 he served for
the next 11 years before going into the real estate and insurance business in Broken Arrow.
He also made a huge impact on athletics in the community. Patterson coached football, both
boys and girls basketball, baseball and track. Although complete records from this era have
been hard to find, the Tigers twice tied for the Oil Valley Conference football championship
and in 1930 finished unbeaten in conference play. His 1930 girls basketball team was the
first from the school to win a tournament. His first baseball team finished 8 and 0 and the
track team won the Northeast Six meet.
His second girls basketball team tied for the conference championship and won the County
Tournament. Among the track stars he coached were Oliver Plant and Bob Bixler. And on
one of his first football teams was a young man named H.K. Ragsdale. Patterson later hired
Ragsdale as the head football coach at BAHS, and that led to Ragsdale hiring one of his
students – Joe Robinson – who followed him as head coach during a remarkable span of
success on the gridiron.
After leaving public education, Patterson remained very involved in community business and
activities. He was named to the Oklahoma Who’s Who in both 1935 and 1937. He served as
president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1966 and was later selected as Honorary Mayor
for Rooster Days. Even in his later years he remained a testament to good physical
conditioning and moral character.
Broken Arrow High School is proud to induct R.D. Patterson into its Athletic Hall of Fame.
