Dwight Patterson

Dwight Patterson

Dwight "Pat" Patterson: farmer, businessman, civic leader, philanthropist, sports advocate.

Throughout his long life, Mr. Patterson kept alive his love of sports. For over a half-century he was considered an important "player" in the civic life of the East Valley.

In 1949, he was credited with luring the Chicago Cubs to Mesa for Spring Training, which solidified the Cactus League in Arizona and earned him the title of "The Father of Cactus League Baseball."

He was on the committee that built the Mesa Country Club. He served on the Mesa Parks Board that set up Little League and Pony League baseball. He spent over 20 years refereeing football and basketball games. He was a founder and first Chief of the HoHoKams, and the ballfield and HoHoKam Park has been named Dwight Patterson field.

He worked to improve public education by serving on the Arizona and Mesa School Boards, the Arizona Board of Regents, and the Maricopa County Community College District Board. He joined Theo Heap in organizing the Ho-Chief Foundation to support MCC athletic programs and made substantial financial contributions to the Foundation and toward the construction of the Health Improvement Center. He sold the land for our Southern and Dobson campus at a reduced price.

His honors are many: Arizona History Maker, Mesa Sports Hall of Fame, Mesa Citizen of the Year. He received the Northern Arizona University Alumni Service Award and the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Citizen Award. His visions of the future are carried forth by the students of Dwight W. Patterson Elementary School.