Teyran “Ty” Micah Patterson graduated from the 51st Texas Game Warden Training Academy on July 1, 2005. Upon graduation, Ty was assigned to Johnson County.

              

On the morning of May 30th, 2007, Ty joined other wardens, firemen and sheriff’s deputies to assist in the recovery of a seventeen year-old victim who had drowned trying to save her friends on the flooded Paluxy River in Somervell County. Ty and other wardens moved into what they believed would be the best positions to assist in making the recovery, fully aware of the conditions of the water and the hazards it could present.

As wardens Danny Tuggle and Ty Patterson maneuvered their vessel into the area they believed the body could be found and began dragging operations, the treacherous “hydraulics” of the swirling flood waters turned their boat upside down, throwing both officers into the water and beyond the immediate reach of other officers on the scene. As each of the wardens struggled to remove themselves from the “churning” water, they became more and more exhausted. According to Warden Tuggle, this was the point at which Ty’s true character came out. Tuggle states: “At the cost of his own life, Ty pulled me to the surface more than once, eventually allowing me the ability to reach the rope that would pull me to safety.”

Ty's efforts in assisting Warden Tuggle to safety, putting the welfare of his partner above his own, exemplifies his great character and selflessness. In the truest form of bravery, Ty made the ultimate sacrifice while assisting his fellow warden.

His partner suffered near drowning injuries. Both wardens were transported to a hospital in Fort Worth, where Warden Patterson was pronounced dead. Warden Patterson had served with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for 2 years. He is survived by his parents.