I've a number of professional friends in my 25-plus years of broadcasting here in southern Wisconsin. Jeff Seisser, sports editor at the Daily Jefferson County Union in Fort Atkinson and Tom Miller, sports writer with the Janesville Gazette both published feature articles on my current bout with colorectal cancer and a fundraiser that will be held on Saturday in conjunction with UW-Whitewater's Family Day football game vs. UW-River Falls at Perkins Stadium.
The following story written by Jeff Seisser appeared in the October 4, 2012 edition of the Daily Jefferson County Union:
Tom Pattison is UW-Whitewater
While he never caught a touchdown pass at Perkins Stadium, shot a jumper in Kachel Gymnasium, or hit a home run out of Jim Miller Stadium, he very well broadcast every single monumental Warhawk moment that occurred over the past 20-plus years.
Known simply as "Voice," Pattison's golden pipes have been a bit silenced due to health reasons, including his latest battle - cancer.
This Saturday will be "Team Tom Cancer Day" as the local university will help give back to one of their family members in an effort to help offset Pattison's increasing medical bills.
The three-time defending national champion Warhawks host UW-River Falls in a 2 p.m. kickoff at Perkins Stadium.
The event will coincide with Family Day, which has produced some of the biggest crowds to watch Warhawk football games in recent years.
"I'm totally humbled and overwhelmed," said Pattison. "I used to cry every time it was brought up, but now I'm getting better with it; it's a weird situation."
Football, above all over Warhawk sports, has been Pattison's passion. Warhawkfootball.com debuted in September, 2003.
"When Mount Union started winning and had a website dedicated to football, he said we needed to start one. It was his idea, and I was all for it," said former Warhawk head football coach Bob Berezowitz. "Mount Union's (site) is down, and his is still going."
Currently, the site has over 1.7 million hits.
"All I wanted to do was put a face on these players.
"Tom has been a valuable part of Warhawk football," said UW-Whitewater head football coach Lance Leipold. "Our exposure has been expanded in a lot of ways, but Tom was there before any of that happened. He's continued to get the stories out there covering all the areas of Warhawk football."
"Our thoughts and prayers are with him as he battles this," said Leipold.
The Janesville Gazette also posted a story in Thursday's edition. The story was written by veteran sports writer Tom Miller.
UW-Whitewater to rally around long-time announcer
Tom Pattison was there to help raise money when Edgerton native and UW-Whitewater graduate Jay Baker lost his legs after a drunken driver hit his motorcycle in 2003.
In 2010, Pattison played a major part in collecting contributions to help former two-time All-American linebacker A.J. Raebel in his recovery from testicular cancer.
Now the 60-year-old Pattison, who was the play-by-play announcer for Warhawk athletic events for nearly a quarter of a century, is the one in need.
Pattison was diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer in May. He underwent surgery at Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital, but doctors could not remove the entire tumor. He just began his second round of chemotherapy, which leaves him dehydrated and tired.On Saturday, UW-Whitewater will attempt to repay Pattison for his many hours of dedication to Warhawk athletics by accepting donations before and during Whitewater's WIAC football game against UW-River Falls at Perkins Stadium.
"It's humbling to be on the other side of it," Pattison said Wednesday. "I always did my darndest with my website (to help others). Now it's me, and I'm not sure how to react."
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