Dr. J.W. Patterson founded the "Tournament of Champions" in 1972 with the intention of bringing together the best debaters in the country to create an event that would serve as the pinnacle of the high school debate season.
The first year of the Tournament, 64 teams from across the nation, 128 students in total, traveled to Lexington, Kentucky to compete in Policy Debate.
In April 2022, the Tournament will celebrate its 50th anniversary, hosting over 2,000 students in four debate divisions and seven speech divisions.
Questions about the Patterson Foundation's celebration of the 50th anniversary?