EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville women's sports pioneer Lois Patton officially earned her induction in to the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame on Friday in St. Louis in conjunction with Arch Madness.  She enters the Hall of Fame as an Institutional Great.
 
"I want to thank everyone for this tremendous honor," Patton said.  "I appreciate everything that the University of Evansville has done for me over the years.  It is a fantastic place to work."
 
Joining her in the 2018 induction class were Darren Brooks (Southern Illinois), Christian Goy (Illinois State), Mary Ellen Hill-Schupbach (Bradley), Bill Rowe (Missouri State) and Dani Tyler (Drake).  Others from the UE athletic program to earn the accolade are: Arad McCutchan (Lifetime Achievement), Jim Byers (Lifetime Achievement), Fred Schmalz (Lifetime Achievement), Krissy Meek-Engelbrecht (Women's Soccer) and Mick Lyon (Women's Soccer).
 
"I want to thank the MVC Hall of Fame for honoring me in this way.  It is unbelievable to be recognized in the same breath as the other inductees," Patton continued.  "I want to pay tribute to my mother.  She was a strong, positive role model and told us all to do our best.  That is where I get a lot of my characteristics from."
 
Patton helped to start the women's programs at UE in the early 1970's.  The program started with women's basketball, women's tennis, softball and volleyball.  She coached all four while also working as a professor of Health and Physical Education.
 
"Most of us started our programs on a dime.  The student-athletes who competed at that time were dedicated women and they still are," Patton explained.  "The difference at that time is that those girls were not recruited and did not receive scholarships because they were not allowed."
 
"We started our program under that guide and were fortunate to get through those years.  I wanted to thank particularly the student-athletes who helped to start those programs," she said.  "They were an army of young women who were totally dedicated and persevered through unbelievable trials and paved the way.  They were special people and I am still in touch with many that I worked with.  They deserve more recognition than anyone could ever know."
 
She helped the Purple Aces program expand to six varsity teams in the 1980's before moving to an administrative role with the athletic department in 1981 becoming the Women's Athletic Director at UE.  She later became the head of the Department of Physical Education at Evansville, expanding the majors in that time.  She retired in the late 1990's and has remained active with the UE community to this day.

Last year, the volleyball and basketball floors inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse were named in her honor.  One of the most humble people you will ever meet, Patton along with the others in the MVC Hall of Fame Class of 2018 took the time to look back on their accomplishments and see what they each had done for their respective athletic programs.
 
"It is all about helping each other up that ladder of success and enjoying the ride, and I have enjoyed that ride."
 

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