Former La. Tech Coach Patterson Fatally Shoots Wife, Self

The 73-year-old Patterson coached baseball at Louisiana Tech from 1968 to 1990

Oct. 11, 2007

RUSTON, La. (AP) -Former Louisiana Tech baseball coach Pat Patterson killed his wife, who had Alzheimer's, and then himself Thursday at an assisted living facility.

The shootings occurred about 7:15 a.m. Thursday at Arbor House outside Ruston, La., Lincoln Parish Sheriff Mike Stone said. Patterson's 71-year-old wife, Glenda, had been a resident of the home for about a month, he said.

"It's a real sad day in Lincoln Parish," Stone said.

The 73-year-old Patterson coached baseball at Louisiana Tech from 1968 to 1990 and retired with a record of 741-462. He then served for several years as Louisiana Tech's associate athletic director, overseeing athletic eligibility and NCAA compliance.

Known as "Gravy" by fans, Patterson graduated in 1958 from Louisiana Tech. He coached at Ouachita Parish High School in the Monroe area and Shreveport's Byrd High School before joining Louisiana Tech in 1967.