Col. Richard Maney Patterson

Monday, July 20, 2015

Col. Richard Maney Patterson

June 9, 1924 - July 19, 2015

McCOOK, Neb. -- Col. Richard Maney Patterson, of McCook, passed away July 19, 2015 at Hillcrest Nursing Homein McCool

Richard (Dick) was born June 9, 1924, in Los Angeles (Glendale), California, to Col. Earl S. and Adeline Maney Patterson, later of Palm Springs. He was the great-grandson of late Tennessee Governor, Cannon Maney.

Richard attended prep school at Mercersburg Academy in Hagerstown, Pennyslavaia, his father's alma mater. While at Mercersburg, he received a swimming scholarship to Yale University, but as World War II had broken out, joined instead the Army Air Corp as aviation cadet and began flight training. He served in the air war in the South Pacific, from his station in Guam into Japan beginning at age 19, flying B-29 aircraft.

At the completion of his WW II service, he returned home to California and earned a bachelor of science in animal science and reproductive physiology at Cal State Polytechnic in San Luis Obispo. He remained in the Air Force Reserves. After graduation, he began working as ranch manager for several large ranches, creating breeding plans for animal genetics.

At the outbreak of the Korean War, he was called back to fly in that conflict. His military decorations included the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart(s) and other honors. Having earned rank of Colonel, he later served as chief of staff of NORAD in Colorado Springs. Returning again to civilian life, he continued his work in ranch risk management in his company of Ranch America and served a term of president of the Pikes Peak Cattlemen's Association.

He bought Lost Valley Ranch, a full-service dude and fishing ranch in Deckers, Colorado, operating it for five years before selling it to Billy Graham's Navigators group. Two more years were spent living and working in Jamaica on cattle projects.

Richard married Sheryl Van Gundy in 1985; they worked and traveled together through Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Costa Rica. They had many happy adventures. He is survived by his wife of McCook.