MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2020 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Horhn, Blackmon, Blount, Norwood, Frazier, Simmons (12th), Turner-Ford
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REMEMBERING THE PUBLIC SERVICE, LEGAL AND MILITARY LEGACY OF HINDS COUNTY SENIOR COURT JUDGE HONORABLE HOUSTON J. PATTON AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE ON HIS PASSING.
WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of respected jurist and former Hinds County Senior Court Judge the Honorable Houston J. Patton; and
WHEREAS, the Honorable Houston J. Patton was born on April 1, 1935, in Pelahatchie, Mississippi, to Houston and Grace (Walker) Patton. "Jack," as all affectionately knew him and the youngest of seven children, was baptized early in life. His connection to his family and faith was solidified from the beginning. Houston's father passed away when he was very young. His mom, older brothers, Luther and Ernest, and his sisters, Olivia, Essie, Vivian and Ella, molded him into the man you knew today; and
WHEREAS, after the passing of Houston's father, the family moved from Pelahatchie to Canton and then to a little town called Tougaloo. The historical grounds of Tougaloo College prepared Houston for achieving academic success, starting at The Daniel Hand Preparatory School and finishing third in his class at Tougaloo High School (1955); and
WHEREAS, in 1957, he joined the Army at the urging of his oldest brother Luther. After serving his country as a Medic for two years, he joined his brothers and sisters and moved to Tuskegee, Chicago, and then to California. While in Chicago, he drove the bus for Chicago Transit Authority. He set his sights to California where he would attend and graduate from Fresno State University (1962) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio, Television and Film. At Fresno State, he was also inducted into the Brotherhood of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated; and
WHEREAS, in December 1965, Houston drove from California to Mississippi to celebrate the holidays with his mother. While celebrating the new year with good friends, he met the love of his life, Johnnie Pearl Lee. They were married the following June 1966. To that union, three children became his forever love: April, Harold and Portia. Being supportive meant giving of his time and it definitely went far beyond anyone's expectations, as Houston was the President of the Lady Mustangs Booster Club well past the time after Portia graduated from Murrah High School; and
WHEREAS, being an Area Administrator with the Child Development Group of Mississippi where he was able to assist communities with receiving federal funding for programs such as Headstart, is just one of his ground-breaking opportunities to help people who need a hand-up, and not a hand-out. While working at WJTV, he decided that he could better serve more people by pursuing the legal profession. He attended Southern University Law School and graduated in 1972. Houston returned to Jackson to practice law as a Staff Attorney and Deputy Director with Community Legal Services (1973-1979); he helped form the private practice law group of Page, Patton, and Mayo (1979-1983); he opened up his own law practice (1983-1989); and he was elected to serve as Hinds County Senior Court Judge (1989-2015); and
WHEREAS, one of his greatest achievements while a Senior Court Judge was properly managing the Youth Detention Center. The center was a labor of love as he felt it was instrumental to ensure the children would learn in an environment that was not conducive for learning. He demonstrated how to till the land to create gardens and brought in reading programs to cultivate their love for the written language. It was imperative that detainees learn something new under his watch. Growing up without a father was his driving force as to why he understood the importance of having strong male influence in the lives of young men. Whether he was mentoring in the Youth Detention Center, or working with Save Our Sons, or simply reading at an elementary school, Houston made sure that all he did was for the love of his people and the community; and
WHEREAS, Houston was a member of the Mississippi Bar Association, Magnolia Bar Association, and a very dedicated President of the Daniel Hand High School Reunion. As a member of Holy Family Church, he was instrumental in revising the bylaws of the Parish Council that was an asset to the operation of the committee; and
WHEREAS, Houston is survived by his wife, Johnnie Lee Patton; two children, April and Harold Patton (Lori); one grandchild, Hannah Patton; two sisters, Essie Brown and Ella Marcus; one brother, Ernest Patton; and a host of nieces and nephews. His daughter, Portia Patton, preceded him in death; and
WHEREAS, Judge Patton consistently lectured on professional standards of the practice, including ethics, integrity, civility, courtesy and adherence to the Golden Rule. Houston's life honored both the legal profession and this great state that he loved and served:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby remember the public service, legal and military legacy of Hinds County Senior Court Judge Honorable Houston J. Patton and express the sympathy of the Legislature on his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Honorable Houston Patton, forwarded to the Hinds County Board of Supervisors and The Mississippi Bar, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.