Tatton (’02) and Jessica (’02) each had unique journeys that led to them attending then Bartlesville Wesleyan College.
Jessica grew up in Ausin, Texas, and she attended a Wesleyan church as a student. She heard of BWC as she was growing up; Dr. Paul Mills would visit her church and speak, and Jessica even visited BWC in high school. And while she initially wasn’t thrilled about the idea of going to school in such a small town, she grew to feel that it would be a good choice for her.
On the other hand, Tatton grew up in small-town Oklahoma and had hopes of playing college baseball. An injury late in high school hampered his opportunities with other schools he had looked at, but a call from the baseball coach at BWC led to a campus visit. After seeing what the campus was all about, Tatton decided to attend BWC even though he was not a Christian at the time.
Tatton majored in business administration while at BWC (which became OKWU in 2001). He believed the degree gave him a broad enough skill set that would allow him to adapt to whatever opportunities came along. Jessica earned her degree in behavioral science. She enjoyed the prospect of working with children, but she didn’t see herself as a classroom teacher.
College Experience
Tatton came to BWC as a non-believer, but his experience of being surrounded by faithful Christians changed him.
“I met some real Christians,” he said, “and it was really cool to see real Christians living their faith.”
He made the choice to become a Christian following his sophomore year, a decision that had a ripple effect on the rest of his life.
Tatton and Jessica knew each other prior to his conversion, but Jessica was not willing to commit to a relationship with someone who wasn’t following Christ.
“I think she was a little more interested in talking to me after I told her about my faith and how I got saved,” he said.
They dated throughout the rest of their college years, and they got engaged in September 2002, just a few months after graduating. They were married in the summer of 2003.
Business Ventures
Tatton began working at a car dealership after finishing school. In 2005, he joined the Army and served a tour in Afghanistan. In 2009, after completing his stint in the Army, the couple moved to Tulsa. Tatton began working at Midstream Natural Gas Company while pursuing his MBA from Oklahoma State University.
Jessica went to graduate school at the University of Texas, and she worked in the behavioral health field for several years. The couple began having children, and Jessica shifted to a stay-at-home mom role, caring for their four children and eventually homeschooling them when they were old enough.
In 2014, the couple returned to Bartlesville to launch Patriot Auto Group. Patriot Auto Group has strong OKWU roots; one of his business partners is someone he met at OKWU, and the other attended OKWU as a student. Over the last ten years, their business has grown to include eight different stores across northeast Oklahoma, including two in Bartlesville.
Jessica continues to use her degree as a homeschool teacher, working with children in more of a one-to-one environment. She also teaches at a homeschool co-op in Bartlesville.
Over the years, the Mannings have earned a reputation for their philanthropic endeavors in the Bartlesville community, both as individuals and through Patriot Auto Group. Every year, Patriot gives away four cars as part of their Student of the Year program, and the Mannings are dedicated supporters of their alma mater and other worthy causes throughout Bartlesville. This belief in investing in others is rooted in a specific experience Jessica had while she was a student at OKWU.
She received a scholarship between her sophomore and junior year that made the difference between her being able to return to Bartlesville and having to explore other options. Someone’s generosity at that time allowed her to stay at BWC, and the couple has made a point of giving back as the years have gone on.
“Our time at OKWU has made this very strong community that we can lean into,” Tatton said. “The university has been really good to us.”
Tatton and Jessica Manning live in Bartlesville with their four children: Elianna, Avi, Tatton, and Jett. They will be honored at Homecoming 2024 as the OKWU Alumni of the Year.
