BANGOR, Maine -- Leroy Patterson made quite a first impression onthe new Bangor High School football coach when he first came out forpreseason practice at Garland Street Field before the start of the1959 season.
'I knew I had a good one in Leroy,' said Gerry Hodge, who hadjust taken over the Bangor program after previously coaching atMexico High School.
Hodge turned out to be a good judge of athletic talent, becausePatterson went on to become one of the top athletes in Bangor HighSchool history -- starring in baseball, gaining All-Maine honors inbasketball and earning a Division I scholarship in football.
'He was one of the finest all-around athletes I've ever seen,'said Hodge. 'He was a wonderful young man to coach, I can surely saythat. He was one of my all-time favorites.'
Patterson, who went on to have a 33-year career with theUniversity of Maine police department, died Wednesday morning ofcancer at his home in Winterport. He was 67.
'He was at the very top of a short list of the best athletes everto play at Bangor High School,' said current Bangor High Schoolathletic administrator Steve Vanidestine. 'And as a person he wasone of the very best I ever met.'
Patterson was a halfback and defensive back for the Bangorfootball team who twice was named a high school All-American for theRams before graduating in 1962.
'As a young boy growing up in Bangor when he was playing, I wentto all of his games because he was someone you wanted to see play,'said Vanidestine. 'When you heard Leroy's name called, you paidbecause he did some great things out there.'
Patterson also was a star outfielder on the Rams' baseball teamand a two-time Bangor Daily News All-Maine selection in basketball.
Patterson, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound forward, earned second-team all-state honors as a junior for coach Red Barry's club, then earnedfirst-team recognition as a senior when he led Bangor to the 1962Eastern Maine Class LL championship.
Patterson finished his basketball career with more than 1,000points, a relatively rare feat at the time for players at the ClassLL (now Class A) level.
'He was quite a scorer and rebounder,' said Hodge. 'I think hereally loved basketball more, but football was his best sport.
'He was as good an athlete as anybody here in Bangor.'
That football prowess led to an athletic scholarship from theUniversity of Cincinnati, where in Patterson's first year with theBearcats he was named most valuable player of the freshman footballteam.
'[Old Town native] Dick MacPherson was his position coach atCincinnati, and Dick said Leroy was one of the best recruits he everhad,' said Hodge. 'I remember getting a call from Dick later, and hesaid, 'If you have anyone else like him, send him out here.'
'Leroy had both speed and athleticism. He was very fast.'
Patterson's career path eventually led him to the University ofMaine, where he joined the police department in 1977 and had animpact on generations of college students with his calm, friendlydemeanor.
'He touched a lot of lives at the University of Maine,' saidcurrent University of Maine police chief Roland Lacroix. 'To thisday people at football games will come up and ask if Leroy was stillworking with us because they remembered him from when they werestudents here.
'He was that father figure to so many people. He was laid back,but you knew if he said something, you better do it.'
Patterson remained on the university's police force, eventuallyadvancing to the rank of sergeant, until his retirement in 2010.
'He was a good employee who never, ever complained, at least tome,' said Lacroix. 'And if you ever needed something, he'd be thefirst to step up.'
Patterson also was a fixture as part of the security patrol atmost University of Maine home sports contests.
'He loved the University of Maine, and I think he loved the theUniversity of Maine police department,' said Lacroix. 'And he lovedthe Black Bears.'
Patterson also remained heavily involved with the Bangor sportsscene, following his four children through their Bangor High Schoolcareers and through volunteer work with programs including the localYMCA and Bangor Youth Football.
'Leroy had a way of making making people feel better,' saidformer Bangor High School and Husson University football coach GabbyPrice. 'Everybody felt like they knew Leroy because he made themfeel so comfortable around him.'
Patterson also officiated basketball, football and baseball gamesin the area for many years.
'He always was good with the kids,' said Smokey Lawrence ofBangor, a lifelong friend of Patterson's and a fellow sportsofficial. 'He would teach the kids what they needed to work on, andhe was well-liked by everybody.'
Lawrence and Patterson officiated basketball together mostly atthe middle-school level for more than three decades, while Pattersonalso worked baseball and football games up through the high schoolranks -- and continued to officiate youth football games throughlast fall.
'Leroy was the type of person who was right there anytime anyoneneeded help,' Lawrence said.
Patterson was inducted into the Maine Sports Legends four yearsago.
'The thing I'll miss about him the most,' said Price, 'was hisquietness, his humility and his competitive spirit and passion. Hehad a great way of dealing with people of all different ages.'
