L. Brooks Patterson

Lewis Brooks Patterson (January 4, 1939 – August 3, 2019) was an American lawyer and politician who served as County Executive of Oakland County, Michigan from 1992 until his death in 2019. While often controversial, he was known for the success of Oakland County and its AAA bond rating.

L. Brooks Patterson
Oakland County County Executive
In office
January 1, 1993 – August 3, 2019
Preceded byDaniel T. Murphy
Succeeded byDavid Coulter
Personal details
Born
Lewis Brooks Patterson

(1939-01-04)January 4, 1939
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedAugust 3, 2019(2019-08-03) (aged 80)
Independence Township, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyRepublican[1]
SpouseKathy (div.)[1]
Children4
Alma materUniversity of Detroit (BA), University of Detroit School of Law (JD)
Professionlawyer, politician

Education

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Patterson graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy in 1957. He served in the United States Army from 1962 to 1964.[2][1] He received a Bachelor's degree from the University of Detroit, and his Juris Doctor in 1967 from its law school.[3] In 2005, he was Alumnus of the Year at his alma mater.[3]

Career

Following Patterson's graduation from the University of Detroit, Patterson relocated to Oakland county. Eventually, he opened a law practice in Pontiac where he took segregationist advocate Irene McCabe as a client. [4] During his time representing Irene McCabe, he became a vocal and polarizing advocate against integration in Pontiac schools.

Following 16 years as the Prosecutor of Oakland County, he was elected in 1992 to the office of County Executive.[5] He was re-elected to a sixth term in 2012.[6]

During his years as County Executive, Patterson faced serious health problems, twice undergoing surgery to place stents to control blood flow and, in August 2012, being severely injured as the passenger in a car crash when his Cadillac was T-boned by a Volkswagen test car. The incident left him hospitalized for a month and then placed in a medical facility for physical rehabilitation.[5] His driver was paralyzed. While in care in October 2012, Patterson dismissed claims that his injuries left him unfit to serve if reelected.[7] Patterson often used a wheelchair due to the injuries he suffered in the accident. In March 2019 Patterson revealed he has stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and would not seek re-election the following year.[8]

Personal life

Patterson and his wife divorced in 2002. In 2007, Patterson lost his son, Brooks Stuart Patterson, in a snowmobile accident and, later that year, lost his twin brother Stephen Patterson.[5] In 2008, he established the Brooksie Way Half Marathon in memory of his son. The event is sponsored by local businesses and draws participants from the Oakland University campus and area residents.[9][10]

Patterson died on August 3, 2019. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier in the year.[1]

In July 2023, it was reported that Patterson's daughter, Mary Margaret Patterson, was weighing a run for Oakland County Executive.[11]

See also

References
  • Binelli, Mark. Detroit City is the Place to Be. Metropolitan Books, Henry Holt and Company (New York). First Edition, 2012. ISBN 978-0-8050-9229-5 (hardback version).

Notes
  1. "L. Brooks Patterson, longtime Oakland County executive, dies at 80". The Detroit News. August 3, 2019. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  2. Frye, Stephen. "L. Brooks Patterson dead at 80". The Oakland Press. Archived from the original on May 8, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  3. "UD Mercy School of Law". Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  4. Wisely, John. "L. Brooks Patterson dies after leading Oakland County for a generation". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  5. "After crash, 'I love you' easier to say for Oakland County's L. Brooks Patterson". Detroit Free Press. October 1, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  6. Ramirez, Charles E. (October 2, 2012). "Tests show Patterson, driver had no alcohol, drugs in system before crash, attorney says". The Detroit News. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  7. "Oakland Dems question L. Brooks Patterson's ability to serve after crash". Detroit Free Press. October 2, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  8. "Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson has pancreatic cancer". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  9. Sokol, Stephanie (October 2, 2012). "Brooksie Way returns to Rochester Hills". The Oakland Post. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  10. "Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson: I'll be back in a couple of weeks". Detroit Free Press. September 29, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  11. Buss, Kaitlyn. "Buss: Patterson's daughter weighs Oakland County executive run". The Detroit News. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
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