Football team captain senior year, he caught the first touchdown pass thrown in Arizona Stadium. In football, Patten earned All-Southwest team honors 1927-29. He also earned All-Southwest team recognition in basketball in 1929. A respected business and civic leader, he was recreation director for City of Tucson 1933-40, and served in the Army Air Corps 1940-45. Patten served Arizona for three terms in the United States Congress 1949-55.