September 15, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 159 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E842]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CELEBRATING MR. ARLIN PATTERSON'S 95TH BIRTHDAY

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                             HON. MO BROOKS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 15, 2020

  Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Arlin 
Patterson on the occasion of his 95th birthday.
  Arlin Patterson, or Pat, as he is lovingly called, was born on 
November 28, 1925 in Memphis, Tennessee. At eighteen, he graduated from 
Messick High School and enrolled at Memphis State College. Shortly 
after, World War II interrupted his education and on January 7, 1944, 
Pat was drafted into the U.S. Navy.
  Pat began his training as a signalman in Samson, New York. He went on 
to serve as the personal signalman to two Commodores on the USS Flint 
and served on the maiden voyage of the USS Amsterdam. While serving on 
the USS Amsterdam, he participated in the shelling of Tokyo, Honshu, 
Muroran, and Hokkaido. Finally, on September 2, 1945, the USS Amsterdam 
arrived in Tokyo Bay and was moored next to the USS Missouri, where the 
surrender of Japan took place just the day before.
  After the war, Pat returned to Memphis State College and, in 1950, 
graduated with honors in Business Administration. While there, Pat also 
served as the President to the Phi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and was 
nominated to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities--the 
highest honor that can be bestowed on a Memphis State College student.
  After college, Pat worked as a salesman and actively served in The 
Exchange Club, Memphis Sales Managers Club, and the Children's Health 
Center. He went on to receive the Distinguished Service Award in 1951 
and 1953. Later in his life, Pat opened his own business, Business 
Products, Incorporated, and in 2011, the Memphis City Council 
proclaimed April 16th the Mr. Pat Patterson Day in honor of his 
exemplary service during World War II.
  Pat and his wife, Joyce, have always been active in their local 
church, where Pat served as an usher, Sunday School teacher, and 
financial leader of the church. In 2018, Pat and Joyce, moved to 
Huntsville, Alabama and became involved with Honored Legacies for 
Veterans. As a result, the Madison, Alabama Rotary Club presented Pat 
with the Veteran of the Week honor in the newspaper.
  Madam Speaker, Pat Patterson's work ethic, mental and physical 
stamina, and passion for service embody the ``greatest generation.''
  I wish Pat and his entire family the very best as they celebrate 
Pat's 95th birthday.

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