Dr. Patterson, for whom the Foundation is named,  has devoted his entire career to the instruction of students from all across the country in the field of speech and debate. The Foundation seeks to promote his strong belief that training in public speaking plays a fundamental role in the growth and development of strong leaders across all professions.

Dr. Patterson has received hundreds of testimonials over the years from former students who attest that the training they received in debate, public speaking, and leadership strengthened their communication and persuasive skills and helped better prepare them for their chosen professions. Many of these individuals have attributed their professional success directly to their training in speech and debate.

Dr. Patterson was an instructor in debate and forensics for almost sixty years, including nine years as Director of Debate and Forensics at Muskogee Central High School, Muskogee, Oklahoma; one year as Director of Debate at the University of Arizona, and forty years as Director of Debate and Forensics at the University of Kentucky.

While at Muskogee, he founded the prestigious Little Nationals Debate Tournament, which attracted each year over five hundred debaters from numerous states.  

His students won over one hundred tournaments in various debate and speech events, including two National Forensic League Championships in extemporaneous speaking.