Hall of Fame
James J. Pater, Class of 1960, became very familiar with winning as a football player at Coe. He started and lettered at tackle for three years, and in those three years, Coe won 21 games and lost only three. In 1958 and 1959 the Kohawks won back-to-back Midwest Conference championships, the first time that had been accomplished. Jim Pater was the captain of that 1959 undefeated championship squad that brought home the second title. In recognition of his outstanding play, he was named to the All-Conference team. He was named as well to the college division Little All-American recognition list, the top national recognition that can come to a Coe player. He also had a brief fling with professional football when he signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals. Jim Pater's play was typical of the outstanding performances of many Kohawks in the decade of the Fifties when Coe had five championship football teams. Thus, it is fitting that he be named to the Coe Athletic Hall of Fame in recognition of his leadership role during a period of the college's premier athletic success.
