The scholarships honor not only her affection for the game, but also a lifetime of steady, hands-on service to the College and the wider Salisbury community.
WHAT HER FAMILY SAW
“Catawba was central to Mom’s life,” said Patsy’s son, Dick Rendleman. “As a former student and trustee, she believed in what the College gives to its students, and she wanted others to share in the opportunities that helped to shape her own life. These scholarships continue her commitment to Catawba, to the game of golf, and to the Catawba players she loved so much.”
A LIFE OF SERVICE AND SPORT
Rendleman graduated in 1947 with a major in mathematics and a minor in history, active in the Blue Masque theatre group and Sigma Pi Alpha, and marching as a drum majorette. After Catawba, she helped lead her family’s business and foundation, while also dedicating her time and talent to causes across Rowan County.
At Catawba, Rendleman served on the Board of Trustees from 1976 to 2013, chaired the Academic and Student Affairs Committee for two decades, and served as Vice Chair of the Board. The College recognized her service with an honorary Doctor of Humanitarian Service (1984), the Adrian L. Shuford, Jr. Award for Distinguished Service (1991), and the Exemplary Life Service Award (1997). In 2023, she was inducted into the Catawba College Sports Hall of Fame for her impact on golf and athletics.
THE START OF SOMETHING ENDURING
An accomplished competitor—claiming titles at Grandfather Golf and Country Club, Linville Golf Club, and eleven championships at Salisbury Country Club—Rendleman also gave time to the Women’s Carolinas Golf Association as member, vice president, and president. In 1999, she was instrumental in launching Catawba’s women’s golf program. The College’s annual women’s tournament bears her name in recognition of that leadership.
“I was at a loss for words,” said Chris Saltmarsh, head coach for men’s and women’s golf. “When I first read about the estate gift, I had tears in my eyes. The support she provided the program over the years is unmatched, and this gift is the epitome of her support and legacy here at Catawba College. Catawba Golf is forever grateful.”
Vice President for Athletics Michelle Caddigan added, “Patsy had a gift for making student-athletes feel seen and supported. We are grateful for her lifelong commitment to Catawba and her belief in the power of athletics. These scholarships will carry her spirit forward into the lives of our golfers.”
THE GIFT THAT KEEPS THE GAME ALIVE
Together with her husband, Richard J. Rendleman ’41, Rendleman supported Catawba across the decades—establishing scholarships, funding health and student programs, and championing athletics as Charter and then Lifetime members of the Chiefs Club.
This estate gift is the newest chapter in that ongoing story: endowed support for men’s and women’s golf that will help student-athletes find their footing here—on the course, in the classroom, and in the community they will one day serve.
About Where Our Good Goes
Where Our Good Goes is Catawba College’s comprehensive fundraising campaign, designed to expand opportunities for students, enhance academic and campus life, and strengthen the College’s impact on communities near and far. Grounded in Catawba’s mission of scholarship with character and culture for service, the campaign reflects the College’s enduring belief that when we invest in students today, their good will go far tomorrow.
