About Jim Patterson

Jim Patterson was born April 1, 1950 to James and Virgie Patterson. His father fought in WWII as a combat engineer in Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal, and was also a highly decorated B-29 tail gunner in the Korean War. Jim was raised in Meridianville, AL.  and graduated from Hazel Green High School in 1968. He earned a degree in Business and Economics with a minor in Military Science from Jacksonville State University in 1972. Jim then entered the U.S. Army and served honorably from 1972 - 1976, then served another 6 years in the U.S. Army Reserves as Company Commander of D-926th Engineer Battalion. After the Army, Jim spent 4 years as a stock broker and twenty-nine years as a pharmaceutical representative for Bristol Meyers Squibb, retiring in 2008. Jim currently operates Patterson Properties & Mortgages and is also a partner in AJ Fuel City convenience stores and  Regional Spine & Wrist Center.

Jim has been married 38 years to his high school sweetheart, Susan Carter Patterson. Susan retired this year having served 32 years as a Madison County school teacher. They have three children. Their daughter Krista is a sixth-grade teacher at Meridianville Middle School. She is married to Chris Hunter and they have two sons. Their son Trey is married to the former Tonya Creasy. Trey works for Huntsville Utilities and Tonya is a sixth-grade teacher at Riverton Middle School. Their son Carter is a recent graduate of U.S. Army Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He has returned to serve in the 1307 EHCC, Alabama National Guard and will be attending Alabama A&M University this fall. Jim has served as an Elder and a Youth Minister for eight years at Meridianville Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and is currently a member and a Deacon at Flint River Baptist Church in Meridianville, AL. Through his church, he has served in four mission trips to Romania, China and Nicaragua.        

Jim Patterson has always been civic minded and very involved in his community. Jim was active in the Meridianville-Hazel Green Lions Club, serving as Secretary/Treasurer. Jim was also one of the founding members of the Lions Club Park. While Commander of Company D, 926th Engineer Battalion, he led the construction of fields A and B at Lions Club Park. Jim is also past-President of the Hazel Green Booster Club. He has also coached numerous girls’ and boys’ youth basketball teams. One team he coached as 8 year olds went on to win the 1995 Girls’ State Basketball Championship at Hazel Green High School.

In 1988, Jim Patterson was elected to serve on the Madison County School Board, becoming the first Republican to win a county-wide election since Reconstruction. The Madison County School Board was later divided up into districts and he was re-elected to one more six-year terms. He voluntarily did not seek re-election in 2000. During his tenure, he served as President of the Madison County School Board three times and led the way for the system to achieve a AAA bond rating. Jim also was instrumental in the construction of 10 new schools to include Hazel Green High School, Meridianville Middle School and Riverton Middle School, as well as several facility renovation projects. Jim served on the State Science Textbook Committee as well. Throughout his 12 years of service on the Madison County School Board Jim Patterson never asked for or voted himself a pay raise and continued to serve diligently.

Jim Patterson has a love for Huntsville and Madison County and would consider it an honor to represent the People of District 21 in the Alabama State House. Our State is at a crossroad. We must eliminate corruption, promote Jobs and Education and make wholesale improvements to our roads so this district can continue to prosper. With your vote on November 2nd, Jim Patterson can go to work and provide the Leadership our District Deserves!