Lafayette L. Patterson
Encyclopedia
LaFayette Lee Patterson was a United States Representative from Alabama
. He served three terms in the U. S. Congress, from 1928 to 1933.
Born near Delta in Clay County, Alabama
, Patterson attended rural schools. He worked in agriculture and as a teacher in the rural schools. He graduated from Jacksonville State Teachers College in 1922, from Birmingham-Southern College
in 1924, and from Stanford University
in 1927. From 1924 to 1926 he was the superintendent of education for Tallapoosa County, Alabama
.
Patterson was elected as a Democrat
to the 70th Congress
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William B. Bowling
. He was reelected to the two succeeding Congresses and served from November 6, 1928, to March 3, 1933. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1932.
Patterson moved to Gadsden, Alabama
, in 1931. He worked as a field representative for the Agricultural Adjustment Administration from 1933 to 1943, as a special assistant to the War Food Administration from 1943 to 1945, and as a special adviser to the Secretary of Agriculture
from 1945 to 1947. He remained active in his political party's affairs, serving as a liaison officer for the Democratic National Committee
in 1948 and as a delegate-at-large to the 1952 Democratic National Convention
.
From 1948 to 1951 he was an assistant professor of history at his alma mater, Jacksonville State College. He moved to Raleigh, North Carolina
, in 1952 where he worked in the travel business. He returned to Alabama in 1965, living in Montgomery
, and resumed his profession as a teacher. Patterson died in Birmingham
on March 3, 1987, at age 98. He was buried at Bethlehem Cemetery in New Site, Alabama
.
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. He served three terms in the U. S. Congress, from 1928 to 1933.
Born near Delta in Clay County, Alabama
Clay County, Alabama
Clay County is a county of the US state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Henry Clay, famous American statesman, member of the United States Senate from Kentucky and United States Secretary of State in the 19th century. As of 2010 the population was 13,932...
, Patterson attended rural schools. He worked in agriculture and as a teacher in the rural schools. He graduated from Jacksonville State Teachers College in 1922, from Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham–Southern College is a 4-year, private liberal arts college located three miles northwest of downtown Birmingham. Founded in 1856, it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Approximately 1400 students from 30 states and 23 foreign countries attend the college...
in 1924, and from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1927. From 1924 to 1926 he was the superintendent of education for Tallapoosa County, Alabama
Tallapoosa County, Alabama
Tallapoosa County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. The name Tallapoosa is of Creek origin, and many Indian villages were along the banks of the lower river before the 19th century. As of 2010, the population was 41,616...
.
Patterson was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the 70th Congress
70th United States Congress
The Seventieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1927 to March 3, 1929, during the last two years of...
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William B. Bowling
William B. Bowling
William Bismarck Bowling was a U.S. Representative from Alabama.Born in Calhoun County, Alabama, Bowling attended the common schools, and graduated from the State normal school, Jacksonville, Alabama, in 1892....
. He was reelected to the two succeeding Congresses and served from November 6, 1928, to March 3, 1933. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1932.
Patterson moved to Gadsden, Alabama
Gadsden, Alabama
The city of Gadsden is the county seat of Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama, and it is located about 65 miles northeast of Birmingham, Alabama. It is the primary city of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 103,459. Gadsden is closely associated with the...
, in 1931. He worked as a field representative for the Agricultural Adjustment Administration from 1933 to 1943, as a special assistant to the War Food Administration from 1943 to 1945, and as a special adviser to the Secretary of Agriculture
United States Secretary of Agriculture
The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 20 January 2009. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other...
from 1945 to 1947. He remained active in his political party's affairs, serving as a liaison officer for the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
in 1948 and as a delegate-at-large to the 1952 Democratic National Convention
1952 Democratic National Convention
The 1952 Democratic National Convention was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois from July 21 to July 26, 1952, which was the same arena the Republicans had gathered in a few weeks earlier for their national convention...
.
From 1948 to 1951 he was an assistant professor of history at his alma mater, Jacksonville State College. He moved to Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, in 1952 where he worked in the travel business. He returned to Alabama in 1965, living in Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
, and resumed his profession as a teacher. Patterson died in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
on March 3, 1987, at age 98. He was buried at Bethlehem Cemetery in New Site, Alabama
New Site, Alabama
New Site is a town in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 848. It is part of the Alexander City Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:New Site is located at .According to the U.S...
.