PUEBLO, Colo. (July 26, 2021) – Dr. Sam Batey, the "Chairman of the Boards" in the Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball record books, passed away July 19 in Denver at the age of 79.

Inducted into the CSU Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012, Dr. Batey competed four seasons for the then-called Indians where he was a two-time all-league performer for the Empire Junior College Conference in (1962 and 1963) and a two-time all-district player in NAIA District No. 7 (1964 and 1965).

Dr. Batey still holds the school's four-year record for rebounding after averaging 16.7 rebounds a game (868 rebounds) and averaging 18.2 points per contest in 52 games at Southern Colorado State College (now CSU Pueblo). He was the Indians' leading scorer in 1964 (21.1 points per game, 507 points) and the Indians' top rebounder in both 1964 (445, 18.5) and 1965 (423, 15.1).

One of three players (John Smith and Herman Phillips) in CSU Pueblo history to average a double-double in their careers, Dr. Batey has the top-three rebounding performances in school history with 28 caroms versus Tabor College of Kansas (Feb. 15, 1964), 27 versus Weber State (February 14, 1964) and 26 vs. New Mexico Highlands (February 26, 1965).

Prior to his collegiate career, Dr. Batey was an All-City and All-State player at Denver East High School where he graduated in 1960. Inducted into East Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007, Dr. Batey and his son (Sam Jr.) are members of the Denver Public School's All-Century Basketball team.

After graduating from the Southern Colorado State College in 1965, Dr. Batey began his career as an educator in Denver Public Schools. He taught at Stedman Elementary and East High before becoming the Assistant Principal at Thomas Jefferson High. He finished his career in the DPS as the Principal at Montbello High.

Dr. Batey received his master's from The University of Northern Colorado and his doctorate in Education from the University of Colorado at Denver with his wife Barbara in 1999. He also worked for the Colorado Department of Education where he retired in 2000.

A life member of both the Kappa Alpha Psi and the Esquire club, Dr. Batey was also a member of the Denver Urban League Guild and served on several boards and committees in Denver and Colorado, including the Black American West Museum and Colorado Academy.

Married in 1963 to his Pueblo Junior College sweetheart, Batey is survived by his wife, a son (Samuel R. Batey, Jr. of Atlanta), a daughter (Dana L. Batey-Hurd of Denver), a brother (Charles Batey, Jr. of Denver) and four grandchildren (Jordan N. Batey of Jupiter, Fla, Brooklyn J. Batey of Washington, D.C., Morgan L. Batey of Atlanta) and Pryce S. Batey of Denver).

A "celebration of life" for Dr. Batey will be held Tuesday, July 27 at Scott United Methodist Church (2880 Garfield Street, Denver, CO 80205) starting at 11 a.m.

Dr. Batey's favorite words to students were "study hard and play smart."  He enjoyed chasing jazz festivals across the world, playing golf and coaching his grandchildren from the stands. In his Pipkin Braswell obituary, it said Dr. Batey will be remembered for "his strong faith, his calm yet assertive demeanor, compassion, and for simply being a good man. As Sam always said towards the end of his time, life is "amazing."
 
Article courtesy of Tim Simmons