News from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission

Jim Palmer, Director of Information

March 27, 2000

(OKLAHOMA CITY)-Patrick K. Petree, Public Information Manager with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission since 1982, died of a heart attack Saturday, March 25, at Edmond Medical Center. Petree, 64, is survived by two sons and a daughter. They are Larry Petree and his wife Lori of Conifer, Colorado; Brian Petree and wife Stacy of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Linda Blackman and husband Tom of Hoffman Estates, Illinois; one sister, Patricia Snider of Macomb, Michigan and three grandchildren.

Among his many accomplishments at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Petree founded and refined "The Regulator," a monthly commission newsletter reflecting activities within all divisions of the commission. Prior to coming to the commission, Petree worked in public relations with Kerr-McGee Corporation in Oklahoma City and with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in Akron, Ohio.

At the time of his death, Petree was an adjunct professor of english and journalism at Rose State College where he taught for a number of years. He was a 1956 graduate of Oklahoma City University with a B.A. degree in journalism and a 1983 graduate of Central State University with a master’s degree in education.

With all of Pat Petree’s work in the media and public relations, it is important to remember that he had a special love for and life-long interest in baseball. Petree was the last play-by-play radio announcer for the Oklahoma City Indians and remained active and interested in baseball and its history. He continued to serve as an official scorer for the Oklahoma RedHawks home games.

Petree wrote a book in 1980 on the history of Oklahoma City baseball entitled "Old Times To The Goodtimers." Most recently he was a contributing editor to a new book called "Glory Days of Summer, A History of Baseball in Oklahoma." From 1958 through 1966, Petree worked as a member of the KMBC radio and TV news and sports staff in Kansas City, Missouri and as a reporter for the Kansas City Star. Pat later worked as a part time writer and copy editor for The Daily Oklahoman sports department.

Funeral Services are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Thursday, March 30, at Baggerly Funeral Home located at 930 S. Broadway in Edmond. Burial will be at Rose Lawn Cemetery in Mulhall.

-occ-