Running a Decathlon

13 Oct 2020

How William Patton helped build one of the country’s most famous academic competitions—and encouraged students of all abilities

Re: Bill Patton (PMD 21)

Topics: Education, Information Social Enterprise-Nonprofit Organizations Marketing-Product Launch

Bill and Sandra Patton (photo by Tony LaBruno)

While serving on the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee in 1979, William Patton Jr. (PMD 21, 1971) met Orange County superintendent of schools Robert Peterson, who told him about his idea for a competition called Academic Decathlon. What made it unique was that it required that teams include students of varying academic abilities. Patton was impressed by Peterson’s vision and subsequently became Academic Decathlon’s first president.

Patton helped put together a board of directors. Before long, the organization had space donated by Loyola Marymount University for the national competition and support from Pacific Life Insurance Company, Lawry’s Foods, Twentieth Century Fox, Walt Disney Company, and many other businesses. In 1982, Academic Decathlon held its first national competition, with teams from 18 states.

Over the decade that Patton was involved with Academic Decathlon, the competition grew quickly. Sponsorships from Northrop Corporation, American Honda Foundation, and others provided support for the program and scholarships for student winners. “The objective was to find not just A students who deserved scholarships, but also to find B students or C students who were competent to a very high level in certain areas, whether it be literature, mathematics, or whatever,” says Patton. “And you wouldn’t believe what could be found.”

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Featured Alumni

Bill Patton

PMD 21

Featured Alumni

Bill Patton

PMD 21

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