Jerry Summers
The first time that Chattanooga’s athletes became aware of Patrick Lee Trammell was when his Scottsboro Wildcats were invited to participate in the annual pre-season Times Cup basketball tournament at the John B. Steele Gymnasium at City High School on 3rd Street in December 1956. After beating Chattanooga’s Central Purple Pounders, by a score of 67-66 in the semi-finals, his Scottsboro team would meet City High in the finals of the tournament.
In 1957 Trammell would lead the Wildcats against the eventual Tennessee State Football Champions Central High Purple Pounders in a 26-12 loss in Scottsboro.
The annual Scottsboro Invitational held during the week after Christmas in 1957 would include another basketball encounter between Central and Scottsboro. Although Scottsboro and Central had been the pre-tournament favorites, they had been upset in the second round by DAR and New Hope and would meet in the consolation round. Central would prevail 65-55 although Trammell led the scoring for Scottsboro with 27 points outscoring Central’s Eddie Test by five points.
Trammell would be selected as the Most Valuable Basketball Player in the State of Alabama for 1958 and would earn All County, All State, All Southern, and All American honors during the 1958 season as the leader of the Wildcat football squad.
The relationship between Pat Trammell and legendary college football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant is part of the resurrection of football history of Alabama football.
Although Pat had originally planned to sign with Georgia Tech after his senior year in 1958, Coach Bryant promised to come coach at Alabama, his alma mater, and leave Texas A&M if Pat would commit to Alabama.
Thus started a lifelong relationship with Bryant that led to the supreme compliment in his autobiography, “The Bear”, about Pat Trammell when he stated that the day Pat died was “the saddest day of my life”.
On the day of Pat’s funeral in Scottsboro, Coach Bryant was seen crying for the only recognized time in his lengthy life and career when he escorted Pat’s mother out of the church.
Although Coach Bryant had several “favorite” players during his career he expressed in a sentimental moment that “Pat Trammell was (not just my favorite player but) the favorite person…of my entire life.”
Pat was also one of the few players who could argue with Coach Bryant and even reject plays sent in by him from the sidelines.
Pat Trammell came from a family of physicians and declined an inquiry from Green Bay’s Coach Vince Lombardi about playing for the Packers in the National Football League if they could draft Pat. He expressed early on that his goal in life was to be a doctor and he accomplished that by becoming a dermatologist as a third generation doctor in 1966 when he graduated from the Medical College of Alabama.
As a treating physician he received another superb compliment when Auburn football Coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan chose Pat to treat his skin cancer. Jordan would also attend Pat’s funeral.
Pat died of complications from metastatic testicular cancer on December 10, 1968 at the age of 28 which was only two years after earning his M.D. degree. He left a wife and two small children. His legacy has lived on since his death. From 1968-2014 numerous accounts of his life, establishment of scholarships, and creation of many programs that benefit young people have been set up in his name.
The awards and honors that Pat Trammell received during his life and after his death are too numerous to list in a short article.
The readers are respectfully suggested to Google Patrick Lee ‘Pat’ Trammell Alabama Football” to ascertain the honors he received but more importantly to realize the respect that this young man achieved in his short life from his community, state and nation.
Those of us who had the privilege to play against Pat Trammell in football and basketball in 1957-1958 did not realize the extent of his ability to lead others and the influence that is still recognized by Alabama and elsewhere - We now do.
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Jerry Summers
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Pat Trammell