Buddy Patey : Making the Call
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Buddy Patey’s career demonstrates a deep commitment and love for the game of football. And a high level of accomplishments few have achieved. For more that 50 years Patey has worn the black and white striped officials uniform. After years of officiating in both the OVC and SEC he’s racked up enough stories to fill a book. “A lot of serious and humorous things,” Patey said. “Guys are the same not that I’m special but since I’ve been in it this much they tell me to write a book. I keep procrastinating you know cause a lot would be about more people.” Patey graduated from Union University. First excelling on the field as a player. Eventually he found his way into the striped uniform, first on the Prep level. “There was one in Memphis not one here,” Patey said. “There were just 4 of us and we booked our own games. I’m sure I was the worst official. I didn’t know much.” In 1954 Patey joined the OVC as an official. Then two years later in 1956 he joined the SEC. “I applied for the SEC and got in cause I had good guys recommending me,” Patey said. In 20 years he worked over 200 SEC games including seven straight Iron Bowls. Surrounding himself by the games greatest coaches. “Coach Bryant was good to work for,” Patey said. “All of them were. If he had a problem he took it up with the commissioner. But Doug Dickey was a good coach and Jordan. They all were.” Patey considers himself a true patron of the game. Every game he approached he did so, carefully and wanting to ref the perfect game. “If you want that play to come to you in crunch time, that’s when you know you have arrived,” Patey said. “I know those fellas out there are good but I want it to come to me. I want to make that call.” Following his career on the field, he served as a supervisor of officials for both the SEC and OVC. With all of his experiences Patey considers himself, lucky. “I saw on movie tone new when Lou Gehrig said hes the luckiest man on the face of the earth,” Patey said. “And I felt that way. I never thought Id get to do it all.”
