[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 45 (Thursday, March 15, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3157-S3158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THANKING STEVE PATTERSON

  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I come to the Senate floor this morning 
with a little bit of sadness but, more importantly, a tremendous amount 
of joy in my heart to salute an individual who has meant so much to me 
and to pay tribute and to say thanks to a very dear friend and longtime 
chief of staff of mine, Steve Patterson. For the better part of 12 
years, Steve Patterson, or as we call him in our office, ``Patterson,'' 
as he is known to me and to my staff, has faithfully served the people 
of Arkansas, as well as me.
  He has been my most trusted adviser in both the House of 
Representatives and in the Senate. Words cannot fully describe the 
meaningful impact Steve Patterson has had on both my personal and 
professional life. When I first decided to run for the Senate, my 
husband said: We are in, but only if Steve Patterson is in. He has 
meant so much to our entire family. I know the comfort and counsel he 
provided my mother.
  In so many ways, he has been one of those people who you know from 
your professional side of life is so critically important, but from 
your personal side of life now is an unbelievable individual in all he 
has done and accomplished.
  When I think of Steve Patterson, there are a few words that stand 
out: integrity, solid conviction, justice, fairness. All of the words 
each and every one of us strives for in our everyday life I see in this 
individual, who has meant and continues to mean so much to me.
  For the past 25 years Steve has been one of the most loyal and hard-
working servants in Government. He has been a team player as far as a 
congressional team is concerned. He is big on team sports. But more 
importantly, he is incredibly devoted to the team spirit the country 
has and needs to be the success it is. I consider him a true confidant 
and will most assuredly miss him in that position.
  Steve was born in Oklahoma City in 1950 but grew up in Alva, OK, 
where he graduated high school. He attended the University of Oklahoma 
in Norman but eventually transferred to Oklahoma State University where 
he graduated with a degree in journalism, and I have to say, 
unfortunately for my colleagues in Oklahoma who have adopted him, he 
has moved to Arkansas and he is one of our own now.
  According to his wife Jean, Steve was always very interested in 
politics. One of her first memories was when she and Steve were friends 
at Oklahoma State waiting to vote for the first time in the 1972 
Presidential election. To give you an idea of how far we have come in 
the issue of election reform in the last 35 years, Jean told me they 
waited in line for what seemed like an eternity to cast their very 
first ever vote in, of all places, the laundry room of someone's home 
on the top of a washer and dryer. Before they could even get to the 
ballot box, they learned their candidate, George McGovern, was in the 
process of being defeated by Richard Nixon in a landslide. But you know 
what, they continued to wait in line. They voted despite the outcome 
they knew was probable because of their true convictions.
  The experience of that election crushed a lot of young people and it 
caused them to turn away from the political process but not Steve 
Patterson. He has always wanted to make a difference and he has never 
cowered from any of the challenges that are faced when you have a 
conviction. He has got that conviction for many reasons, not because he 
loved this great country, not because he loves his family, not because 
he loves his fellow man, but for all of those reasons.
  Shortly before he moved to Washington, Steve served as political 
reporter for various newspapers in Oklahoma and was working for the 
Lawton Constitution when newly elected Congressman Dave McCurdy asked 
Steve to become his press secretary. They had gone to college together, 
and there was a group of them, when Dave McCurdy was running for 
Congress, who all worked together to reach a common dream. The decision 
was not an easy one, however. When Steve moved to Washington, he was a 
single father, a very devoted single father. Money was tight in those 
days and the hours were long. He and my long-time systems 
administrator, who is still with me, Thirise Brown, were both young 
single parents and would on occasion have to bring their children to 
work. It is hard to imagine, or is it? Actually we see a lot of that 
these days.
  Steve's daughter Paige and Thirise's daughter Tiki would often be 
oblivious to the major hard work that was being accomplished around 
them, and would have a great time getting into all sorts of trouble, 
watching as their two single parents worked desperately hard, not only 
in their conviction to provide for their children but also to make this 
country great.
  Although Steve began as a press secretary, he quickly worked his way 
up to Chief of Staff. He was the Chief of Staff to my good friend 
Congressman Dave McCurdy and continued in that capacity until 1994. 
Shortly after, Steve became my Chief of Staff, joined me in my House 
times when I was in the House of Representatives. We were there 
together for 2 short years until I retired from the House to be with my 
newborn twins. Steve went to work for then Representative Jim Turner as 
his Chief of Staff. But it was not long until I was back on my feet and 
decided I was going to run for the Senate.
  I begged Steve Patterson to move to Arkansas and to run my Senate 
campaign. The rest, as they say, is history. During our time together, 
Steve taught me so much and helped me gain the necessary skills to 
survive and navigate the tough political environment.

[[Page S3158]]

When Steve came on, he quickly proved himself to be one of the most 
capable and effective managers on Capitol Hill. I think that is 
certainly in the proof today with the many friends he has, of staffers 
and consultants and others in this town who have tremendous respect 
both for his opinion and his judgment.
  You would be hard pressed to find a man with a greater drive, a 
greater competitiveness, or a greater work ethic anywhere. He truly 
loved working, as he always puts it, to change America and to make it 
better. One of Steve's greatest assets that continually blessed me is 
his ability to identify talented young people and give them the 
confidence and the ability to become outstanding professionals.
  He never approached the young staff on Capitol Hill with a 
condescending attitude. It was always an attitude of empowerment: What 
is it you can do today with the talent you have, and how is it you can 
develop the new talents you need to take those next steps you need to 
take to reach that ultimate goal.
  How incredibly important to have people in our lives who empower us 
to reach our potential and to reach our goals, to reach for the stars, 
not just for ourselves but for our great country, and for those whom we 
love. There is no greater blessing than to see someone who gives of 
himself to make sure others can reach their potential.
  Steve has mentored young men and women on my staff who have gone on 
to become House and Senate Chiefs of Staff, congressional State 
directors, campaign managers, State party directors, and a multitude of 
other positions. Steve also encouraged those in my office who showed 
great aptitude to continually challenge themselves and take on new 
responsibilities, never to shut a door or an opportunity they may have 
thought was too big or out of their realm, but encouraged them to do as 
much as they possibly could and to reach for those stars.

  Nearly all of my current senior staff served me in some shape, form, 
or fashion, whether as an intern, a staff assistant, or a legislative 
correspondent before being promoted to their current position, and they 
did so with the recommendations of Steve Patterson, who said: Learn all 
the jobs in this office so you can talk about and know what it takes to 
make this office tick and to make it great.
  Steve left me in capable hands, and I truly believe Steve's ability 
to nurture so many of the best and brightest political minds our State 
has to offer will be one of his lasting legacies.
  But what also makes Steve special is he was more than a great boss to 
my staff; he has been a tremendously great friend to me and to my 
family.
  Steve is a self-described Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Reds 
fanatic as well as an Oklahoma Sooner and Oklahoma State Cowboy 
supporter. Steve was known to be commissioner or at least participated 
in fantasy football and baseball leagues with the staff. March was not 
complete without the famous Patterson annual March Madness pool. We 
think about it now as we move into those basketball playoffs.
  Steve was an avid Senate softball player in his earlier days and took 
up golf in his later days. He loved getting the staff, both male and 
female, outside the office for these kinds of great activities of 
coming together in fellowship and fun and making sure our office was 
tight, not just in the responsibilities we had to accomplish but in the 
friendships we could build and things we should share with one another 
in helping each other to grow in our stature and in our 
accomplishments.
  It was his passion for those things that endeared him to them and 
built bonds that went between the typical employer-employee 
relationship. It is what also made our office strong and will continue 
to make our office strong as we see the quality in all of those 
attributes we build both professionally as well as the fellowship with 
our fellow man.
  Lastly, I couldn't talk about Steve Patterson if I did not mention 
what a terrific family man he is. ``Punchy,'' as he is known in his 
family, was a wonderful son and is an exceptional husband and a father. 
In 1984 Steve married Jean, and shortly thereafter, they had a daughter 
together, Megan. Steve was devoted to both Paige, his first daughter, 
and Megan.
  While in Virginia, he was active as a soccer coach for almost 10 
years. Many of our staff remember this decked-out van he drove. He 
loved his van because he loved the time he spent in it traveling the 
State and the parameters of the State of Virginia with his girls on 
soccer tournaments. He drove to work in the van, but on the trips his 
daughters went on with the soccer tournaments, it was transformed. It 
was a home unto itself and he loved it.
  He was more than a loving father, he was also a caring son. I was 
able to see that. His parents came to live with his family in 1985 when 
his mother was ill with breast cancer. Steve, Jean, and the girls cared 
for his mom until she passed away in 1994. I talk oftentimes about my 
own family, my grandmother living with us when I was growing up and 
what an incredible experience it brought to me and to our family. I 
could see Steve saw the value not only in what he could do and the love 
he could share and provide for his mother and father but also what it 
meant to his family to be a part of a larger giving in love.
  When Steve moved to Little Rock in 2003 to run my Senate reelection 
bid, his father moved with them and they lived in Little Rock until he 
passed away in 2004. Steve's father had suffered from diabetes, and his 
affliction led to Steve's involvement as chairman of the Central 
Arkansas American Diabetes Association.
  Giving back to the community was always a tremendous priority for 
him. As can you see, Steve Patterson is one of a kind. We will 
certainly miss him in the office. But I take comfort in the fact he 
will not be too far away--always an arm's reach or a phone call away--
he has guaranteed me that.
  He has now chosen a new career path and has opened a political 
consulting firm with two of my former staffers in Little Rock. They are 
doing great things, working hard and enjoying life. In his new tenure 
he will specialize in fundraising, strategic planning, and grassroots 
coalition building, which is something he is unbelievably talented at.
  Life's journey is a great journey and the road we travel is one, as 
we look back, that provides us so many opportunities, so many 
blessings. I cannot think of a greater blessing than to be able to 
travel that road with a great friend such as Steve Patterson, not only 
in the past but in the future, in the many years ahead.
  I am enormously grateful, Steve. I wish you the best of luck in your 
new endeavor. I know you will be successful as you embark on your new 
path. I cannot thank you enough for all you have done for me and so 
many others throughout your career in service to Government. From the 
bottom of my heart, thank you for your faithful friendship, your 
service to me, the great State of Arkansas, and without a doubt your 
country.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Brown). The Senator from Texas.

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