Following a controversial social media post this weekend, longtime announcer of Arkadelphia athletics Steve Patterson will return to the press box for a 40th season.
The English teacher and “Voice of the Badgers” took to Facebook on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 17, 2024. Patterson, in his mid-60s, called out the “powers that be” for removing him from his post as football and basketball announcer.
“After 39 years of announcing the band, football, baseball and basketball games for the Badgers, I have been told by the ‘powers that be’ that I would not be welcome to announce football and basketball anymore,” Patterson posted.
The post soon went viral among Badger nation fans, prompting upwards of 500 comments from former students and residents outraged over administrators asking Patterson to step aside.
“Everything is resolved, and we are happy to have [Steve Patterson] back for his 40th year of calling games for Badger Athletics.” — Nikki Thomas, Superintendent of Arkadelphia Public Schools
By midday Monday, however, the attitude shifted as the school district posted an announcement about Tuesday’s Meet the Badgers scrimmage game, with an addendum that Patterson would begin his fourth decade announcing Badger athletics.
Soon after, Patterson posted that he had met Monday morning with Superintendent Nikki Thomas and Arkadelphia High School principal Callie Hunley, who offered the job back to him.
“There had been some concern over my strength and health,” Patterson admitted, “which I very much appreciated, and I want to thank all of my friends and former students for expressing love and support.”
Patterson left the voluntary position during the previous football season due to health reasons. School board member Matt Johnson filled in during Patterson’s absence. This prompted some on social media to speculate that Johnson would be the permanent fixture, but school officials say that wasn’t the case.
In an interview Monday with arkadelphian.com, Thomas cited the fact that the issue was a personnel matter limited her from making a comment. “Everything is resolved,” she said, “and we are happy to have him back for his 40th year of calling games for Badger Athletics.”
Patterson said he expects Badger fans to “be extra loud at games this year.”