John McQuesne Patterson

PATTERSON, JOHN MCQUESNE (1910~1995) J. M. "Jay" Patterson was born May 4, 1910, in Austin, Texas, to prominent Austin attorney, J. M. Patterson and Irene Kuykendall Patterson.

Patterson was educated in Austin public schools where he graduated from Austin High School; he lettered and was co-captain of the football team. Following graduation, he entered Schreiner Institute in Kerrville where he played football and basketball. After graduating, he entered the University of Texas Law School and graduated in 1937.

Patterson was a member of the State Bar and Travis County Bar Association and practiced law with his father and brother for over 40 years. He was the attorney for the Austin Independent School District from the 1930s to the 1970s and served as the Austin City attorney where he specialized in election, real estate, and probate law.

Patterson served as Travis County Democratic Chair and was a delegate to the 1956 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. Governor Allan Shivers appointed Patterson to the State Board of Control where he was a member and the chairman. Patterson, Governor Shivers, and Attorney General Price Daniel served on the State Building Commission during the construction of the Sam Houston Building and Supreme Court Building in the Capitol complex.

He was appointed by two Chief Justices of the Texas Supreme Court as a trustee of the Employee Retirement System of Texas from 1968-1982. He was Chairman of the Employee Retirement System in 1974 and in 1980.

Patterson died on August 12, 1995 and was buried at the Texas State Cemetery.

Information taken from Obituary in the Austin American-Statesman, August 13, 1995 and from materials provided by Mrs. Patterson.