[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 146 (Monday, October 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1738-E1739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN HONOR OF OHIO STATE SENATOR THOMAS PATTON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 3, 2011

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Ohio State 
Senator Thomas Patton who is being inducted into the West Tech High 
School Hall of Fame by the West Tech Alumni Association.
  Born and raised in Cleveland's near Westside, Senator Patton is one 
of nine children. He attended St. Colman's School before enrolling at 
West Tech High School. While attending West Tech, Senator Patton was a 
member of the basketball team. Upon graduating in 1971, he married his 
high school sweetheart, Evelyn Hawkins, and started classes at 
Cleveland State University on an athletic scholarship.
  In 1974, Senator Patton and his brother, Terry, opened Cleveland 
Business Systems. In 2002, he decided to run for a seat in the Ohio 
House of Representatives. He won the election and represented the 18th 
District from 2003 until 2008. In November 2008, Senator Patton was 
elected to the Ohio Senate's 24th District. As an Ohio State Senator he 
serves as chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and is a 
member of the Finance Committee, the Energy and Public Utilities 
Committee and the Ways and Means and Economic Development Committee. 
Senator Patton also serves as co-chair of the Ohio Senate Autism Caucus 
and as a member of the Ohio Turnpike Commission, the Ohio Athletic 
Commission, the Ohio Rail Development

[[Page E1739]]

Commission, the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact and the ODOT 
Transportation Futures Steering Committee.
  Throughout his career, Senator Patton has been recognized with a 
number of awards and accolades. He has been named Legislator of the 
Year by the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), an Honorary D.A.R.E. 
Officer by the D.A.R.E. Association of Ohio, Northeast Ohio Public 
Energy Council Legislator of the Year for Protecting Consumer Choice 
Award and the Legislator of the Year by the Ohio Professional Society 
of Engineers. He has also received the Moms for Ohio Public Service 
Award, the FOP Distinguished Public Servant Award, Ohio Public Images 
Award, Ohio Alpaca Breeders Association Legislator Award and has been 
recognized by the Autism Society of Ohio.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in congratulating Mr. 
Thomas Patton for being honored by the West Tech Alumni Association and 
being named to the West Tech High School Hall of Fame.

                          ____________________