Football was always a Haggerty pastime. even with Jim, Pat's brother. Pat's cousin, Donald "Cal" Snyder (1909–1975) was 1935 NIAA All-conference quarterback at Kearney State Teachers College (now called University of Nebraska at Kearney). He attended Denver North High School in Denver, Colorado and he played basketball and baseball at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. His previous officiating experience prior to joining the NFL included football and basketball in the Big Eight Conference and Western Athletic Conference.