ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

OLTON, TEXAS | USA DON L. PATTERSON

‘52 FOOTBALL

DON GRATEFULLY REMEMBERS THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE HIM AND GAVE TO SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS IN THE 1940S. Looking back now, he can clearly see the incredible impact that football scholarship had on his life. Along with his continued hard work, his education at WT helped to lay the foundation for a successful career in law and a successful home life. Today, he continues to be inspired by the generosity that others once showed him. He and Dorothy give back in hopes of providing these same life-changing experiences to today’s student-athletes.

IN ADDITION TO NAMING THE FOOTBALL LOCKER ROOM LOCATED IN THE BAIN ATHLETIC CENTER, DON AND DOROTHY ALSO HAVE AN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORTING WT FOOTBALL.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS | USA MAURICE CHEEKS

‘78 BASKETBALL

FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, MAURICE CHEEKS HAS BROUGHT GREAT DISTINCTION TO WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY (WT) with his outstanding career as a player and coach in the National Basketball Association and his recent induction into the prestigious Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. WT, along with the help of teammates, peers, friends and fans, have honored Cheeks with a bronze statue on campus and the establishment of an endowed scholarship in his name.

WT CAREER • 1988 WT Athletic Hall of Champions Inductee • 7th All-Time in Career Scoring with 1,277 Points - 6th in Free Throws Made (307) - 5th in Field Goal Percentage (.568 on 460 of 810)

NBA CAREER • 4-Time NBA All-Star • 1983 NBA Champion • 2018 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee A statue of Maurice “Mo” Cheeks stands outside the First United Bank Center

Cheeks in action as NBA Assistant Coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder