In Memory of Fred William Patterson

Floor Speech

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Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Fred Patterson. To those close to Fred, he was known as a man with two careers. While his career as an advertising salesman and publisher paid the bills, he was passionate about impacting his community. It is through his hard work and leadership that Denton transformed into a cosmopolitan competitor with Dallas and Fort Worth.

On December 25, 1929, Fred was born in Decatur, Texas not too far from our beloved community of Denton. After graduating from the University of Texas in 1952, he eventually moved to Denton, where he joined the sales service department at Moore Business Forms. In 1958, he began work advertising for the Denton Record-Chronicle and that same year he married the love of his life, Patsy. By 1986, Fred and Patsy were the co-owners of the Record Chronicle.

Throughout the 1990s, the Pattersons oversaw the renovation for the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center. Personally, I am grateful for this facility because it provided the space I needed in August of 2009, to hold my largest townhall to-date.

Fred very much appreciated the arts and history. So much so that he raised over $500,000 to move and restore the Bayless-Selby house Museum to the Denton County Historical Park he was also instrumental in founding. Beyond his love for the arts and history, Fred loved his community. He served as chair of the committee that established Denton's television Channel 2 and was vice president of the Friends of WRR radio station.

Denton was more than where he and Patsy lived and raised their two sons Bill and Riley. It was his home, and service to his community was truly his second career.

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