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Kay Patterson (South Carolina politician)

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Kay Patterson
Member of the South Carolina Senate
from the 19th district
In office
November 5, 1985 – 2008
Preceded byIsaiah DeQuincey Newman
Succeeded byJohn L. Scott Jr.
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 73rd district
In office
1975–1985
Succeeded byJoe Ellis Brown
Personal details
Born(1931-01-11)January 11, 1931
Darlington, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedDecember 13, 2024(2024-12-13) (aged 93)
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJean James
Children2
ResidenceColumbia, South Carolina
Alma materAllen University,
South Carolina State College
ProfessionEducator

Kay Patterson (January 11, 1931 – December 13, 2024) was an American politician who was a Democratic member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 19th District from 1985 to his retirement in 2008.[1] He was previously a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1975 through 1985.

Early life and career

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Patterson was born in Darlington County on January 11, 1931, the son of James and Leila Patterson, and was raised in Darlington and Sumter Counties by his grandmothers, Mrs. Meta B. Patterson and Mrs. Emma Joseph. He graduated from Lincoln High in Sumter, South Carolina, in 1949. Senator Patterson attended Claflin College, now Claflin University, in 1949-1951. After he served in the United States Marine Corps from 1951 to 1953 as sergeant, he completed requirements for the baccalaureate degree in Social Sciences at Allen University in 1956.[2] He pursued additional education at Temple University and attended an NDEA Institute in Black History at Atlanta University in 1963. He received the Masters of Education Degree from South Carolina State College, later South Carolina State University, in 1971.[3]

Patterson taught for fourteen years at W. A. Perry Middle School, C. A. Johnson Preparatory Academy, and Benedict College, and served for 16 years as a UniServ Representative for the South Carolina Education Association, from which he retired in June 1986. He was a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church where he has served as Senior Warden of the Vestry, Secretary and Treasurer of the Vestry.[4]

Patterson was active in many civic and community organizations which include the North Columbia Civic Club and life membership in the NAACP. While a student at Claflin College (1949–1951), he joined the Omega Psi Phi fraternity and Edisto Lodge No. 39 Prince-Hall Masons. He served as a Commissioner on the Education Commission of the States, as a member of the State Reorganization Commission, and a member of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). In January 1983, he was elected by the S. C. House Education Committee to serve on the University of South Carolina Trustee Board, the first African-American to serve on the Board since Reconstruction.[5]

Political career

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South Carolina Senate

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Patterson won a special election to South Carolina State Senate District 19 in November 1985,[6] going on to serve as an outspoken legislator championing the cause of the poor and downtrodden. Patterson succeeded I. DeQuincey Newman, the first Black person to serve in the South Carolina Senate since Reconstruction. Patterson's office sent out a notice for the unveiling of Newman's portrait, the first portrait of a Black person to hang in the South Carolina Senate chamber.[7] In 1990, he served as Chairman of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus.[8]

Patterson served on the Senate Banking & Insurance, Corrections & Penology, Education, Finance, and Transportation committees, and as a commissioner for the South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation.[9] He also served as Chairman of the Richland County Legislative Delegation.

In 2008, Patterson retired[10] and was replaced in the Senate by John L. Scott Jr., a former State House representative. Scott won a close fought Democratic primary runoff victory (75 votes) against Richland One School Board Chairman, Vince Ford[11] [12] and went on to defeat United Citizens Party candidate Chris Nelums in the general election.[13]

South Carolina House

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Patterson was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1974. Upon election to the State Senate, his former House District was represented by Joe Ellis Brown.

Confederate flag removal

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As an outspoken and fiery speaker in his practice of politics, Patterson was a moving force in promoting and effectuating change in the state of South Carolina. Since 1980[14], he had been a proponent for removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina State House dome,[5][15] [16] having sponsored a bill on the removal in 1983,[17] [18] decades prior to Governor Nikki Haley signing a bill into law.

In 2021, Patterson was a plaintiff, along with Jennifer Pinckney, widow of Senator Clementa C. Pinckney suing against the Heritage Act, arguing that the Act was unconstitutional. The case was heard before the South Carolina Supreme Court. [19] [20] [21]

See also

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Awards and honors

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  • Honorary doctorate, South Carolina State University, 2000.[22]
  • Columbia Housing Authority Wall of Fame, 2003[23]
  • African American History Calendar, 2003.[24]
  • Honorary Doctor of Public Service, University of South Carolina, 2005
  • Induction into the Richland One Hall of Fame, 2007.[25]
  • Pioneer Award, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center – Columbia, SC, 2015[26]
  • Historical marker honoring Patterson's birthplace, Round O, South Carolina in Darlington County, unveiled 2016.[27] [28]
  • Inaugural Clementa C. Pinckney Award presented by the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus, 2016.[17]

Personal life and death

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Patterson was married to Jean James of Pinewood, South Carolina, and had two children.

In 2003, Patterson was diagnosed with breast cancer, and received national attention for going public to share information with men about their health risks.[29]

Patterson died in Columbia, South Carolina, on December 13, 2024, at the age of 93.[30] [31]

References

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  1. ^ "Lawmakers, friends toast, roast outgoing Sen. Kay Patterson".
  2. ^ "Alumni History". Allen University. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  3. ^ "2007-2008 Bill 1424: Honorable Kay Patterson - South Carolina Legislature Online". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  4. ^ Haynie, Rachel (2005-08-12). "Veteran senator receives honorary doctorate - Columbia Star". Columbia Star - Columbia's locally owned weekly newspaper since 1963. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  5. ^ a b Collins, Jeffrey (2024-12-13). "Kay Patterson, who rose from janitor at segregated South Carolina capitol to state senator, dies". AP News. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  6. ^ "Rep. Kay Patterson wins SC Senate seat". cdm16817.contentdm.oclc.org. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  7. ^ "Letter, December 23, 1986, Kay Patterson to Anne Newman, Program, Draft for unveiling ceremony encl. 23 Dec. 1986, Press Release, January 8, 1987, Page 3". digital.tcl.sc.edu. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  8. ^ "2019-2020 Bill 4096: Honorable Kay Patterson - South Carolina Legislature Online". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  9. ^ "2019-2020 Bill 4096: Honorable Kay Patterson - South Carolina Legislature Online". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  10. ^ "Kay Patterson to retire". WIS-TV. February 8, 2007. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  11. ^ "Election officials set runoffs, recounts". The Sumter Item. 2008-06-13. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  12. ^ "Recount Results Are In". wltx.com. 2008-06-16. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  13. ^ "SC - Election Results". www.enr-scvotes.org. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  14. ^ "Rep. Kay Patterson argues for removal of Confederate flag from House Chamber". cdm16817.contentdm.oclc.org. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  15. ^ "Fundamental changes in South Carolina paving the way for Confederate flag's removal". Columbus Dispatch. July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  16. ^ Goddard, Lisa (2000-05-24). "South Carolina Gov Signs Confederate Flag Compromise • Stateline". Stateline. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  17. ^ a b Sturgill, Mary (May 25, 2016). "Senator Kay Patterson Receives the Inaugural Clementa Pinckney Award". WLTX-TV News 19. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  18. ^ Laird, Skylar (2024-12-13). "Former SC Sen. Kay Patterson, a role model for generations of legislators, dies at 93 • SC Daily Gazette". SC Daily Gazette. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  19. ^ "Pinckney v. Peeler". vLex. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  20. ^ Monk, John (July 22, 2020). "Lawsuit asks SC Supreme Court to declare Heritage Act unconstitutional". The State Newspaper. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  21. ^ Digital, BECK; P.A, Wyche (2021-08-23). "SC Supreme Court upholds Heritage Act, but rules vote measure an 'overreach'". Wyche Law Firm. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  22. ^ "113th Founders' Day Program" (PDF). South Carolina State University. February 22, 2009. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  23. ^ "Wall of Fame". www.columbiahousingsc.org. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  24. ^ "Senator Kay Patterson" (PDF). SC African American History Calendar. 2003. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  25. ^ Richland School District One inducts four into Hall of Fame. Archived 2020-04-06 at the Wayback Machine The Columbia Star. August 24, 2007.
  26. ^ "Three minority business leaders to be honored". Carolina Panorama Newspaper. 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  27. ^ "South Carolina Historical Marker for Round O Community and Former Senator Kay Patterson to be Dedicated". News and Press. November 29, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  28. ^ Marchant, Bristow (December 9, 2016). "Marker will honor trailblazing African-American SC senator". The State newspaper. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  29. ^ "Former State Senator opens up about male breast cancer". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  30. ^ Bustos, Joseph (December 13, 2024). "Kay Patterson, former longtime Richland County lawmaker, civil rights icon dies at 93". The State Newspaper. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  31. ^ Reynolds, Nick (2024-12-13). "Kay Patterson, colorful former South Carolina state senator, dies at 93". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
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