Paris-Henry County Sports hall of Fame ~ Speaker 2012

Patey can blow the whistle in big games

BY TOMMY PRIDDY, POST-INTELLIGENCER

If you have been a high school or college football fan in Tennessee, then you have probably seen R.L. “Buddy” Patey wearing an official’s uniform.

In a long and distinguished career, he has governed more than 300 games including many traditional SEC rivalries such as seven consecutive Alabama-Auburn encounters. His resume contains numerous “big” games and a number of bowl appearances which includes the Bluebonnet, Cotton, Peach, Gator, Liberty and Orange Bowls.

He will tell about some of his experiences during an appearance as the guest speaker at the Paris-Henry County Sports Hall of Fame banquet scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Paris Convention Center, located at 1510 E Wood St.

Kitty Allen, Josh Archer, Jim Drexler, the late Buddy Akers and the late Richard Byars will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Calvin Jones will be presented the Distinguished Service Award during the banquet.

Tickets cost $25. They can be purchased at the law office of William T. Looney , located at 127 N. Poplar St. and at Paris Insurance Agency, located at 203 W. Wood St.

Patey earned his stripes officiating for 48 years, 21 as supervisor of officials for the Ohio Valley Conference. He also was supervisor of officials for the Big Ten Conference for 15 years (1971-86) and a technical adviser for the Southeastern Conference. He got into officiating after playing in college at Union University.

As a high school official, Patey has been working the past 56 years for the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association.

He has called more than 800 high school football games, worked 17 bowl games, two All-Star games and five TSSAA state championship games. He has been the TSSAA supervisor-at large since 1986.

Patey has been inducted into the Tennessee State High School Athletic, Jackson-Madison County Sports, the Ohio Valley Conference and the College Football Halls of Fame. He was the recipient of the Lawrenceburg Quarterback Club Officiating Award and the Jackson’s Young Man of the Year Award.

More recently, he was inducted into the University of Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, in February of 1999.

Distinguished Sportswriter and longtime National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Honors Court chairman Fred Russell, called Patey “one of football’s best ever officials.”

Patey authored a children’s book on officiating, hosted radio and television sports shows, and wrote a column for two newspapers entitled “Ask the Ref.”

He also served as vice mayor of the City of Jackson, which included numerous posts in community service groups. Patey has been honored with “Buddy Patey Day” in Camden and also served on the Board of Directors of the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, Jaycees and Lions Club, among others.

Currently, Patey is the secretary of the Collegiate Commissioners Association and Football Supervisors Committee and a member of the Editorial Committee for the NCAA Football Rules Book.

He lives in Jackson.

Published: Thursday, July 19, 2012