Patty Cox Hampton Roloff

Patricia "Patty" Cox Hampton Roloff, 97, of Oklahoma City, passed away on October 26, 2024. A pioneering female executive in professional baseball and respected business leader, Patty is credited as saving professional baseball in Oklahoma City when she purchased the 89ers Baseball team in 1978. Patty was born on July 16, 1927, in Kansas City, Missouri, and moved to Oklahoma City in 1936.

Her remarkable achievements were recognized with her induction into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame in 2015. She was named Journal Record Corporate Woman of the Year (Business) in 1984, American Association Executive of the Year three times, and was inducted into the Hall of Honor at the Oklahoma Commerce and Industry Hall of Fame in 2001. Her most recent honor came just weeks ago at the age of 97 when she was inducted into the Oklahoma City Baseball Hall of Fame, class of 2024.

After graduating from Classen High School in 1945, she attended the University of Oklahoma, graduating in 1949 with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Psychology and Social Work. She worked as a Psychiatric Social Worker in Augusta, Georgia, before returning to Oklahoma City where she would leave an indelible mark on the Oklahoma City community.

In 1970, she founded Cox Advertising Agency, beginning a remarkable career that would break numerous glass ceilings. In 1978, she became the only woman to own a Triple-A baseball team when she purchased the Oklahoma City 89ers. Her exceptional leadership in baseball earned her numerous accolades and was the first woman to receive the Sporting News Baseball Executive of the Year award in its 56-year history. Patty also made it to the “big leagues” when she served as Executive Vice President of the Chicago Cubs from 1982 thru 1984.

Patty's impact extended far beyond baseball. She served on numerous executive boards including, First Interstate-Boatmen's Bank, Bank of America, the Oklahoma Tourism Department, Allied Arts, Presbyterian Hospital, and the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. Patty's focus on women helping women in business led to her co-founding the High Noon Club for women business owners, and Charter 35, an organization formed for Oklahoma women business owners to stay ahead of local, state and national issues.

A member of Crossings Community Church, Patty also served as a past deacon, elder, and board member of First Christian Church in Oklahoma City. In addition to past mission trips and countless hours of volunteer work at Crossings, Patty was most proud of her long-time participation in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), an international organization with outreach throughout the world.

Patty was preceded in death by spouses, Dr. Marcus L. Cox, M.D., Berlon Eugene (Bing) Hampton, and Robert B. Roloff, Son, Marcus L. Cox, Jr., (Linda Randels Cox) and Daughter, Blair Erisman Kirkby. She is survived by son Michael Cox and his wife Debbie O'Toole Mitchell Cox, and daughter Claudia Cox Phillips, and her 5 beloved granddaughters and 6 greatgrandchildren: Ann Marie Dodgen (Jacob), Morgan Bowling and her sons Blake and Bennett, Whitney Alexander (Jon) and her twins, Jacob and Tinsley, Palmer Erisman, and Paige Nation and her daughters Rowan and Aubree.

A celebration of life service will be held on Monday, November 4th, 2024, at 2PM, in the Chapel at Crossings Community Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Rookie League Foundation of Oklahoma, or Muscular Dystrophy Association. For more information, please visit Smith & Kernke Funeral Home website.

Link to watch service: https://vimeo.com/event/4689232/21a5c37487