Ronan Hall of Fame inductees: Anthony Patch and Zach Pitts

Profiles of the 2026 Ronan Hall of Fame inductees begin this week with Distinguished Alumni Anthony Patch and Distinguished Athlete Zachary Pitts. The Induction Celebration is 1 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Ronan Boys and Girls Club.

Distinguished Alumni

Anthony Patch, a 1996 graduate of Ronan High, began his career in the National Football League in 2001 interning as a talent scout with the Miami Dolphins.

Following a short stint with the Dolphins, Patch was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles to work in their scouting department and in 2016 became the Eagles’ senior director of college scouting. Highlighting his time with the Eagles were the two Super Bowl titles won by the team in 2017 and 2024.

Patch left the Philadelphia team in the spring of 2025 when the Las Vegas Raiders hired him as their senior director of scouting. In announcing the hiring, the Raiders commented that Patch, “is well respected around the NFL for his work in helping the Eagles build a strong roster through the draft.”

Patch was a four-year player at defensive line and linebacker at Carroll College in Helena, where he earned a degree in finance before going on to earn an MBA from the University of Montana in 2001.

He competed in football and wrestling during high school.

Patch now lives in Spokane with wife Rikki (Starkel), and daughters Samantha, Addison and Breann.

Distinguished Athlete

A member of the Ronan High School class of 2002, Zachary Pitts graduated with a long and impressive list of accomplishments in athletics and academics.

In addition to being class valedictorian, Pitts was an Academic All-State selection 11 times and belonged to the State Champion Small Business Team as a member of Ronan High’s Business Professionals of America Club.

A four-year starter in basketball, Pitts established a new Chief career scoring record with 1,184 points from 2002-2004. Included in the point total was a single game 43-point effort in the Ronan High School gym against Missoula Sentinel.

Twice during his high school years Pitts scored more than 400 points in a season.

He earned numerous post-season awards during his career including three selections to the Western A All-Conference team and the Class A All-State team. He is the only player in Ronan history to be named three times to the All-State basketball team.

A javelin thrower in track and field, Pitts was Class A Divisional javelin champion in 2000 and 2002 and holds the Ronan school record in the javelin with a throw of 194’ 8.”

Pitts now lives in Kalispell with his wife, Valissa, three sons and a daughter.

    Chiefs basketball star Zachary Pitts, who will be inducted into the Ronan Hall of Fame on Feb. 14. (Courtesy photo)