Patterson for Alabama: The Life and Career of John Patterson

267 Pages·2008·1.33 MB·English

by  Gene Howard

Patterson for Alabama
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Frontispiece: A satisfi ed John Patterson on the night of his victory over George Wallace.
(Photo courtesy Jim Cannon.)
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Patterson for Alabama
The Life and Career
of John Patterson
Gene Howard
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA PRESS
Tuscaloosa
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Copyright © 2008
The University of Alabama Press
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0380
All rights reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
Typeface: Goudy
∞
The paper on which this book is printed meets the minimum requirements of American Na-
tional Standard for Information S ciences-P ermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials,
ANSI Z39.48-1984.
Library of Congress C ataloging-i n-P ublication Data
Howard, Gene L., 1940–
Patterson for Alabama : the life and career of John Patterson / Gene Howard.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8173-1605-1 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-8173-8056-4 (electronic : alk.
paper) 1. Governors—A labama—B iography. 2. Lawyers—A labama—B iography. 3. Judges—
A labama—B iography. 4. Alabama—P olitics and government—1951- 5. Alabama—S ocial
conditions—20th century. 6. Phenix City (Ala.)—History—20th century. 7. Alabama—
B iography. I. Patterson, John, 1921 Sept. 21- II. Title.
F330.3.P27H68 2008
976.1′063092—dc22
[B]
2007042108
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Contents
Preface and Acknowledgments vii
1. Looking for a Rainbow in Phenix City 1
2. From El Guettar to the University 8
3. Praying the Devil Out of Town 16
4. The RBA Challenges the Gangsters 25
5. Albert Patterson Beats the Mob 34
6. Assassins Make a Politician of John Patterson 48
7. Trying His Father’s Murderers 64
8. Bankrupting the Loan Sharks 73
9. Playing Cops and Robbers with the Folsomites 80
10. Patterson Sets His Sights on Integration 90
11. The Montgomery Bus Boycott Changes Alabama Forever 99
12. Nobody but the People 110
13. Alabama Elects a Boy Governor 140
14. Trying to Build a “Better Alabama” 150
15. Battling Black Belters and Courting Kennedy 159
16. MLK, Castro, and a New Romance 171
17. Freedom Riders Tarnish Patterson Administration 182
18. Scandal Spoils Patterson’s Big Finish 200
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vi / Contents
19. Twice Embarrassed at the Polls 213
Conclusion 223
Appendix: The Patterson Cabinet 227
Notes 229
Index 251
Photographs follow page 123
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Preface and Acknowledgments
This is a story about a remarkable period in Alabama history and some of
the people who made it remarkable. From the 1950s through the 1970s,
southern history provides many stories of the good and the bad as the
Old South made the awkward, sometimes painful, transition to a more
modern era. This is the setting for the people and events the reader will
encounter in this book.
This is not, strictly speaking, an academic book. It is, however, a docu-
mented account. Although it is primarily about Albert and John Patter-
son, it also looks at how Alabama struggled to enjoy the benefi ts of effi -
cient state government during a time when the South went through the
terror and turmoil of the civil rights movement.
The most important resources in compiling this story were the coop-
eration of John Patterson and Patterson family members and the contri-
butions from those who had signifi cant roles in the Patterson administra-
tion. Offi cial documents and personal information were made available
without restriction or control, and at no time did John Patterson attempt
to infl uence my treatment of the material. He was candid in his disclo-
sures and encouraged those close to him to be the same.
A note about the documentation. As my intention was to tell a story,
rather than to produce an analytical study of the man and the times, I
have not interrupted the narrative fl ow with copious note numbers. An
endnote number appears at the end of a passage on a particular topic,
which may extend over several paragraphs; citations for the passage are
grouped together in the endnote.
Acknowledgments are always necessary with a work of this nature. I
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viii / Preface and Acknowledgments
am indebted, among others, to the following for their contributions in
getting the manuscript ready for publication. Maxine Rose and George
Whitesell were instrumental in helping me meet the standards of the
University of Alabama Press. Through the years, members of the Uni-
versity of Alabama history department, especially William Barnard and
Gary Mills, offered important counsel pertaining to the context of the
period. Valuable information also came from the personal collections of
Charles Meriwether, Hilda Coulter, Harry Cook, and Hugh Bentley. Jim
Cannon of Phenix City permitted me to use selections from his valuable
collection of photographs. Ray Jenkins provided observations about the
characters and events in the last gasps of Phenix City’s criminal empire,
as well as John Patterson’s time in public service. I’m grateful to my wife,
Janice, who helped collect information and diligently proofed the draft of
the manuscript. Many libraries and archives provided material, including
the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston.
One fi nal comment. The occurrences during this period continue to
lie heavily on the consciousness of most Alabamians. Dark newspaper
headlines and news reports about racial confl ict created a negative image
of the state that still persists for those watching from afar. Yet the people
of Alabama, black and white, have moved on to a new and more progres-
sive era. Not everything is perfect, nor do we expect it to be, but impor-
tant changes have opened many doors that were previously closed and
have improved the prospect of a better life for everyone.
I trust readers will fi nd value in the time they invest in reading this
story.
I have enjoyed working on it for the past two decades.
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Patterson for Alabama
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