Isn’t it interesting how one decision can change the future in a big way? For instance, if Randy Patrick hadn’t dropped his high school art class to take a broadcasting course, he might be receiving an award from a prestigious arts institution today. Instead, broadcasting “took” and led to a 40+ year career filled with outstanding accomplishments in both radio and television. To honor his passion, dedication and giving attitude through these many years, the ABA is gratified to induct Randy Patrick into the Alabama Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.

“About a week into my sophomore art class, they let us know that then didn’t have enough juniors and seniors to fill the TV production class, so I jumped into that class out of art,” smiles Patrick. “Yeah, my parents weren’t pleased after spending all the money on those art supplies, but it was kind of destiny … it just led me down the path.”

Patrick decided he didn’t need to go to college; he was already working fulltime at WKRG radio in Mobile. “Those were the days where you grabbed every opportunity,” he says. “I was a snotty-nosed 24 or 25-year-old kid doing afternoon drive, a three-to-four-hour talk show every day, interviewing famous people and taking calls and just having a lot of fun.”

“Then I started doing play by play, doing senior bowls and state championships and numerous other things,” says Patrick. “I’ve always had the gift of gab and I like to entertain.”

Patrick moved into TV In 1992. “I became a sports caster full time at WKRG,” Patrick says. “I was the pinch hitter for the morning sports guy and when the weekend shift opened up, they put me in that slot. And when the sports director left, I ended up with that job.”

The television awards began to rack up. Patrick was named Southern League Sportscaster of the Year in 1998. He received the Mobile Press Club’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 and was inducted into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

“I guess I’m most proud of the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame because Mobile is such a unique sports city,” says Patrick. “I was in there with names like Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey, Billy Williams, Satchel Page, Ozzie Smith, Kenny Stabler … they’re all just awesome.”

“The ABA is up there with that one as well. When I look at some of the folks that are in the Hall of Fame, especially from South Alabama, wow, just to be mentioned in a sentence with their names is unbelievable. It’s a dream come true.”

“Just to have that kind of run, not only in one market, but at one TV station in today’s broadcast landscape … to have that longevity is becoming more and more rare,” says Peter Albrecht, WKRG anchor. “That just allows you to connect with the viewers in a deeper way than somebody who might be popping in for a couple of years and then moving on somewhere else.”

“You have to have a passion for sports to do the kind of job that he did for so many years,” Albrecht continues.  “And I think one thing that helped Randy resonate with a lot of viewers is he went beyond the traditional football, basketball, baseball stuff. Randy really covered sports like golf, auto racing, hunting, and fishing. He gave those sports probably more than their fair share of time, and I think it was appreciated too by some areas that get slighted in terms of media attention.”

“I try to build people up, not tear them down,” says Patrick.  “I look at it almost as a ministry, you know?  People are tired by the time the sports comes around after the bad news and once the weather’s done. They want to hear something good, right? It’s not just football, baseball,

 and basketball. I take pride in telling all the stories.”

Patrick retired in January of this year, but he’s hardly had time to catch his breath. “I’m spending time babysitting! My second grandson, believe it or not,” he laughs. “I have him for four days a week, eight hours a day… you know, you just don’t realize how much you missed, how much family stuff and sacrifices because of these shifts I had for 31 years. So, I’m loving every minute of this.”