Robert Patterson Jr.

1921 - 2015

Patterson, Jr., Robert age 94, a great Floridian, a great American, and a member of the greatest generation; died of heart failure on the birth date of the country he loved so much, the Fourth of July. Bob Patterson was born in West Palm Beach in 1921, a 5th generation Floridian he grew up on the shores of Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, where his father was mayor and the first engineer for U S Sugar. After the deadly hurricanes of 1926 and1928 President Hoover visited, and young Bob met the first of many U. S. presidents. He was a good student and finishing high school at the age of 16. He graduated from the University of Florida and was accepted to law school at Florida but WW II delayed his plans. With a degree in hand the Army made Bob an officer, eventually attaining the rank of captain. He saw considerable combat, arriving at Normandy on D Day plus six. He was shot in the legs which he received a purple heart, as well as four battle field stars. He recuperated at the Palace of Versailles which had been turned into a military hospital. He wrote his folks after being shot "don't worry Mom it is just a scratch". The truth was Captain Patterson would carry Nazi shrapnel in his right leg the rest of his life. After the injury he was given a desk job, impressing Gen. Omar Bradley who soon named Capt. Patterson first provisional Governor of Austria for military and civilian interaction. By 1947 he was able to resume law school graduating in 1950. In his early years he practiced law in Jacksonville specializing in the utility industry. With a penchant for detail Bob was noticed by a senior partner of his firm who introduced him to his daughter Lorraine Hillyer and they were married in 1952. The Florida Public Service Commission also noticed the quality of Bob Patterson's work, hiring him as their General Counsel in 1957. By 1961 he had become so successful with the PSC that Bob went on to become the General Counsel for Florida Gas Transmission Company (Later Enron Corporation). He was one of the driving forces in building the natural gas pipeline from Louisiana to Orlando in the 1960s. As a lobbyist Bob Patterson was also elected Chairman of Associated Industries of Florida. Through his government relations he gained the opportunity to interact with every U.S. President from Truman to Clinton. He worked even more closely with 12 Florida governors including Lawton Chiles who wrote upon his 1992 retirement "you have become one of Tallahassee's most respected lobbyists." A man who truly loved his career, family, and country; it is fitting that he would die on the 4th of July. Bob Patterson is survived by his son Robert III, daughter Patricia Peelen (Scott), and 3 granddaughters Mary Hillyer, Elizabeth, and Sarah Peelen. His late wife Lorraine passed away in 2009. Funeral Services will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church in Winter Park Wednesday July 8th at 3:00 PM.