Women’s Basketball’s Patton Meets President Obama

The NAU women's basketball team (7-15, 2-8 BSC) plays at Portland State (12-9, 4-5 BSC) at 3 p.m. Saturday. Game notes are available here.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Northern Arizona women's basketball junior guard Amy Patton got an opportunity to meet and shake hands with President Barack Obama last week when the President visited Arizona. Patton, along with her parents, Gayla and Luther, was part of group of roughly 50 people that greeted the President when he landed at Gateway Airport last Wednesday.

"I was really excited and couldn't sleep the night before," said Patton. "Not a lot of people get the opportunity to meet the President, so it was amazing. He talked to everyone and was really friendly and that was really cool to see in person."

Patton had the chance to be among those that greeted the President when he stepped off Air Force One because her uncle, Army Lt. Colonel LaRoy Peyton, is part of President Obama's traveling party. Peyton also served in a similar capacity with former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Several other members of Patton's family were also in attendance including an Aunt who was celebrating her birthday and got a hug from the President. Amy's older brother, Luther Patton Jr., was unable to be there but got to meet President Clinton when Amy was growing up.

"My brother got to shake Clinton's hand twice, so I had to try to do the same," added Patton, NAU's leading scorer and rebounder this season. "I shook his hand and then he was talking to someone next to me, so I figured he probably wouldn't remember me and went back around and shook his hand again!

"My parents are really happy that both of their children got the opportunity to meet such great presidents, and I was really glad to get this opportunity."

Amy has also had the chance to visit the white house through her uncle, and has a signed basketball with the Presidential Seal from the President's office. She looks forward to greeting President Obama again when he returns to Arizona to campaign later this year.