AL HJR130

Alabama Legislature recognizes Ralph D. Patton for 25 years of coaching school and community sports in the Birmingham area as a teacher, coach, administrator, and community program assistant

Patton graduated from Brainerd High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1975, played basketball at Hiwassee Junior College and Birmingham-Southern College, and became the first African American inducted into BSC's Hall of Fame in 1987

Served as Athletic Director and physical education teacher at The Altamont School from 1991 through 1999, coaching basketball, soccer, and tennis; received Teacher of the Year from Altamont in 1995 and Walmart Teacher of the Year in 1999

The Altamont School renamed its athletic facility "The Patton Gym" in his honor in 2017

Despite a near-fatal 1999 car accident that left him partially paralyzed with traumatic brain injury, Patton has remained active in retirement through community youth activities and volunteering for The Dannon Project