Lee Lafayette Patton was a highly successful coach from his start in Ash Fork, Arizona in 1927 until his untimely death in 1950.
12 Facts About Lee Patton
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Lee Patton was born in the small town of Carbon, Texas.
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Lee Patton was studious youngster and gifted musician, but the stigma of poverty limited his access to high school sports.
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In 1927, Lee Patton landed his first coaching position at Ash Fork High School in Arizona.
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For several summers, Lee Patton served as an instructor at Springfield College with his close friend, Dr Phog Allen.
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In 1944, Lee Patton left Princeton High School to coach at Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, NY where he enjoyed similar success.
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In 1945, Lee Patton was recruited by West Virginia University as head basketball coach.
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In basketball, Lee Patton was admired for his motivational skills, withering defense, clean game, and early use of fast break basketball.
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Lee Patton is credited with launching WVU's Golden Age of Basketball, with such WVU Sports Hall of Fame players as Leland Byrd, Clyde Green, Bobby Carroll, Fred Schaus, Eddie Beach, Jim Walthall, and Mark Workman.
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Lee Patton was in his prime, just 45 years of age when he died at home in Morgantown on March 8,1950.
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Lee Patton was taken by a stroke, the result of injuries sustained in a car crash that occurred while travelling to play Penn State on Valentines Day.
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Lee Patton was much beloved by his players, sports fans, students, fellow coaches, and sportswriters, especially at WVU and in his adopted home town of Princeton, West Virginia.