[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 24, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E76]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO FAY PATTERSON

                                 ______


                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 24, 1996

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory and 
exceptional life of Mr. Fay Patterson, a dear friend, active member in 
the community, and veteran of three wars, who passed away January 8, 
1996, at the age of 80.
  Mr. Patterson was born in South Carolina on June 15, 1915. He served 
this Nation in the Army during World War II in both France and Germany. 
He was also a veteran of the Korean war and the Vietnam war. He was 
awarded the Bronze Star.
  From 1944 to 1953, living in Savannah, GA, Mr. Patterson continued to 
serve the American people as a police officer. In 1959, he began 37 
years of active residency in Seaside where he served as provost 
marshall at Forth Ord until he retired. He then worked as an airport 
police officer for the Monterey Peninsula Airport District until 1977.
  He was interested in not only providing for the welfare of the Nation 
through his service in the Army, but also as an active member of the 
community. During the Christmas season, Mr. Patterson was especially 
generous in giving his time to help the needy and promote activities 
for the young.
  Mr. Patterson was an active member of the NAACP, having served as 
chairman of the registration committee and as a board member of the 
local NAACP chapter. His participation in the American Legion, Kiwanis, 
Friendship Baptist Church, the Monterey County Sheriff's Department 
Advisory Committee and the Monterey County Board of Parol was strongly 
felt and will be sorely missed in his absence.
  While serving as an assemblyman in the California State Legislature, 
I was privileged to present a resolution honoring Mr. Patterson for his 
dedicated service to the community. In conjunction with the resolution, 
the Monterey County Board of Supervisors presented a resolution for 
faithful service and a certificate for outstanding volunteer service. 
The city of Seaside also honored him with a proclamation for 
outstanding service. In 1985, the board of supervisors recognized his 
efforts to register thousands of voters.
  As you can see, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Patterson spent his entire life 
serving this country and helping his community. He was known to many 
and was a dear and close personal friend of mine. He was like a second 
father to me.
  Please join me as I express my regret at the loss of Fay Patterson, 
and my profoundest condolences to his two sons, Ray and Fay, Jr., and 
his two grandsons, of whom he was extremely proud.

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