Better than having his face on a trading card, local sheet metal worker Gene Patterson's picture now hangs in the International Monster Truck Museum Hall of Fame.
Patterson, who was the driver of the legendary Snake Bite and Big Foot trucks, was among four inductees recognized this past weekend at the museum in Auburn, Indiana, during the fifth annual reunion.
Those inducted into the Hall of Fame have been reviewed by a committee of 25 from the monster truck industry, including current and former drivers, promoters, media and a historian. Nominations are culled to 20 names, which are voted on for the year's four inductees.
His Big Foot firesuit already was on display at the museum.
Patterson, 52, has driven in more than 1,500 monster truck events. His driving was featured in the movies "Road House," "Tango and Cash" and "Police Academy 6," as well as the television series Monster Jam.
He also was featured in the book "The Original Monster Truck: Big Foot" by Scott Johnston.
Patterson's first chance to work up close with monster trucks came by taking photographs of the building of Mad Dog II and submitting them to "Four Wheel and Off Road Magazine."
Then, he went on the road with the Mad Dog II team. Eventually, they built Stomper Bully and Patterson took the driver's seat.
"Monster Trucks were starting to crop up like dandelions," he said.
The earliest trucks were regular full-sized trucks modified for the larger wheels and power. The doors opened, there was no two-way communication, limited visibility and drivers just wore a helmet.
Accidents were common early on, too. Patterson developed the nickname "test pilot."
"As the sport grew, we were going faster and jumping higher," he said.
He drove for Big Foot 1987-94 and 1997-2000, averaging 40 appearances a year.
Patterson is best known for creating the "villain" Colt Cobra as driver of Snake Bite.
During his career, he also drove Stomper Bully, Thumper, Samson and Magnum Force.
In 1991, he was named a "Mover and Shaker" by the "Four Wheel and Off Road Magazine."
Although Patterson has been out of the monster truck circuit for more than a decade, he still shares his experiences with local children through Cole County's DARE program and other speaking engagements.
On the web:
monstermuseum.org/2015/05/13/gene-patterson
bigfoot4x4.com/blog/?page_id=1771