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A RESOLUTION commemorating and honoring the life and accomplishments of 1
Dr. J. W. Patterson. 2
WHEREAS, Dr. J. W. Patterson was a native of Oklahoma who taught at 3
Muskogee Central High School before earning graduate degrees from the University of 4
Michigan and the University of Oklahoma; and 5
WHEREAS, Dr. J. W. Patterson joined the University of Kentucky's Department of 6
Communication in 1960; and 7
WHEREAS, Dr. J. W. Patterson served as University of Kentucky's debate team 8
director from 1971 until his retirement in 2009. During his tenure, he led the university 9
debate team to numerous achievements, becoming one of the most dominant teams in the 10
country; and 11
WHEREAS, while serving as director, Dr. J. W. Patterson founded several debate 12
tournaments and organizations, including the Tournament of Champions, the Kentucky 13
High School Debate Institute, and the Henry Clay College Debate Tournament. The 14
Tournament of Champions is a national high school speech and debate tournament that 15
occurs in Lexington, Kentucky, each April, and it has served to open the world of debate 16
to children across the country; and 17
WHEREAS, under Dr. J. W. Patterson's tutelage, the University of Kentucky 18
debate team sent 21 first-round teams to the National Debate Tournament and had six top 19
speakers at the tournament, the second-highest number of all time. The team won the 20
national championship in 1986, was runner-up in 2002, and won a Copeland Award, 21
given to the top-ranked team in the nation, in 1994; and 22
WHEREAS, for six decades, Dr. J. W. Patterson dedicated himself to teaching high 23
school and college students across the country. Dr. Patterson believed in the value of 24
debate, stating that "the mastery of debating both sides of any important topic creates an 25
understanding that truths always exist on all sides of every major issue"; and 26
WHEREAS, Dr. J. W. Patterson served as a special assistant to University of 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1509
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Kentucky president John Oswald and directed the University of Kentucky's 100th 1
birthday celebration, which included more than 100 events throughout the year and a 2
Founder's Day visit from President Lyndon B. Johnson; and 3
WHEREAS, Dr. J. W. Patterson passed away peacefully in December 2023 after a 4
life of innumerable achievements; and 5
WHEREAS, David Arnett, director of UK Debate, said, "It is fair to say that no one 6
has ever had a bigger footprint on the world of speech and debate. Dr. Patterson's legacy 7
spans generations and has touched the lives of thousands. He was as elite debate coach, a 8
passionate educator, and the brilliant architect of what would become the modern 9
competitive debate ecosystem in this country. What I will remember him for most 10
though, is his love of friends and community"; 11
NOW, THEREFORE, 12
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 13
Kentucky: 14
Section 1. The members of the Senate hereby express their most profound 15
sympathy upon the passing of Dr. J. W. Patterson and honor him for his many 16
accomplishments. 17
Section 2. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 18
Resolution to Senator Reginald Thomas for delivery to the family. 19