MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Farris, Bean, Furniss

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING JUDGE HOWARD L. "PAT" PATTERSON, JR., OF HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI, IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIONS CLUBS FOR HIS RECORD OF HUMANITARIAN SERVICE.

WHEREAS, Judge Howard L. "Pat" Patterson, Jr., of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA, was elected President of The International Association of Lions Clubs at the associations' 80th International Convention, held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, June 30-July 5, 1997; and

WHEREAS, Past President Patterson, a Senior Status Chancery Court Judge, is a member of his local, state and American Bar Association. Prior to his election as Chancery Judge in 1966, he was City Prosecuting Attorney, City Judge and a practicing attorney for 11 years; and

WHEREAS, a Lion since 1958, Past President Patterson is a Life Member of the Hattiesburg Lions Club with a record of 26 years' perfect attendance; he has served as district governor, Treasurer of the Multiple District Council of Governors, President of the Mississippi Lions Sight Foundation, Director of Lions World Services for the Blind and Past President Patterson was a member of the association's board of directors from 1975-1977; he has also received a 100% District Governor Award, a Key Member Award, 13 International President's Awards, two International Leadership Awards, the Mississippi Sight Foundation Leadership Award and the Ambassador of Good Will Award, the highest honor bestowed upon association members; he is a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow and a member of the Mississippi Lions Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, he has been an active member of the South Central Mississippi Bar Association, the Mississippi State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and a Life Member of both the National and International Association of Probate Judges; he served as City Prosecuting Attorney for the City of Hattiesburg from 1963 to 1965, and as City Judge of the City of Hattiesburg from 1965 to 1966 when he resigned to run for Chancery Judge; he is also a successful businessman, having owned and operated apartment complexes as well as having been a partner in the construction business and an automobile dealership; and for his civic efforts, Past President Patterson has been awarded numerous local, state and national recognitions throughout his nearly fifty years of civic service; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of his work on behalf of the association, Past President Patterson was recently named Lion of the Year by members of his home club; and

WHEREAS, he was instrumental in the formation of the Lions Sight Foundation of Mississippi, the drafting of its original Constitution and Bylaws, and obtaining its corporate charter from the State of Mississippi; as a member and Treasurer of the Council of Governors, Lion Patterson participated in the planning and construction of the building which houses the Mississippi Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and the Mississippi Lions State Office, and served as Master of Ceremonies at the dedication of the building on October 28, 1973; he also assisted in the drafting of the original Constitution and bylaws of the Mississippi Lions Eye Bank, the Hearing and Van Committees and the Mississippi Lions Activities Corporation; and

WHEREAS, he served on the International Board of Directors of Lions Clubs International from 1975-1977, where he served on the Constitution and Bylaws Committee for both years, and in addition, during his second year served as the Board Appointee to the Executive Committee; he is the recipient of nine International President's Awards, two International Leadership Awards, and the Ambassador of Good Will Award, and is a Melvin Jones Fellow; he has attended most of the state conventions and mid-winter conferences since becoming a Lion in 1958, and has attended more than twenty-one international conventions; and

WHEREAS, the officers and leaders of Lions Clubs International encourage the leaders of Lionism in each state and in each county to seek out able, unselfish and competent men as leaders of their International Association; and Lion Patterson is committed to the strong belief that the presence of Lionism in 177 countries and geographic areas of the world is not only the best way possible to carry out our on-going projects of humanitarian service to our fellowman, but that it can also be a strong voice of influence for world peace; and

WHEREAS, Judge Patterson is a hard-working, dedicated Lion, a devoted husband to his wife, Brenda; a devoted father and grandfather; and an able and highly respected senior status District Chancery Court Judge of the State of Mississippi, who is courteous, has a pleasing personality in any company, and has the unusual ability of making attorneys, and especially young attorneys, feel themselves to be an important part of the court; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the unselfish humanitarian service of this great Mississippian:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Judge Howard L. "Pat" Patterson, Jr., of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Immediate Past President of the International Association of Lions Clubs, for his record of humanitarian service to his community, state, nation and the international community.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to Judge Patterson and his family, the Hattiesburg Lions Club, the International Association of Lions Clubs and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.