Neville Patterson (February 16, 1916 – July 15, 1987)
[Lynn Watkins and Tom Brennan, "Ex-Chief Justice Neville Patterson dies at 71", ''Jackson Clarion-Ledger'' (July 16, 1987), p. 1.] was a justice of the
Supreme Court of Mississippi from 1962 to 1986, serving as chief justice from 1977 to 1986.
[ Leslie Southwick]
Mississippi Supreme Court Elections: A Historical Perspective 1916-1996
18 Miss. C. L. Rev. 115 (1997-1998).
Education, career, and military service
Patterson received his law degree from the
University of Mississippi School of Law in 1939. He practiced law in
Monticello, Mississippi, with his father, leaving to serve in the
European theatre of World War II
The European theatre of World War II was one of the two main Theater (warfare), theatres of combat during World War II. It saw heavy fighting across Europe for almost six years, starting with Nazi Germany, Germany's invasion of Poland on 1 Sept ...
, where he was in the
3rd Armored Division. He won a
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.
Wh ...
at the
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the last major German offensive (military), offensive military campaign, campaign on the Western Front (World War II), Western Front during World War II. The battle lasted fr ...
, and attained the rank of captain.
Judicial service
In August 1947, Patterson was elected a judge of the Chancery Court, where he remained for over 15 years, before winning election to the state supreme court.
In 1962, Patterson ran unopposed to succeed Justice
Harvey McGehee
Elijah Harvey McGehee (June 11, 1887 – November 2, 1965) was an American lawyer, jurist, and politician. He was a justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi from 1937 to 1964. He also was a Democratic Mississippi state senator from 1916 to 1 ...
on the state supreme court.
["Charles M. Hills, "Affairs of State", ''Jackson Clarion-Ledger'' (November 23, 1962), p. A-8.] Patterson ran unopposed for reelection in 1970 (reporting his only campaign expense as $200 to get his name on the ballot) and again in 1978.
He became chief justice in 1977, and declined to run for another term in the 1986 election,
retiring from office on June 30, 1986, and stating that he hoped to have more time to play
golf
Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible.
Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standardized playing area, and coping wi ...
.
Personal life and death
Patterson married Catherine Stough of Jackson, Mississippi, with whom he had two daughters and a son.
Patterson died following a
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...
on the golf course at the age of 71.
References
Further reading
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1916 births
1987 deaths
University of Mississippi School of Law alumni
United States Army personnel of World War II
United States Army officers
Justices of the Mississippi Supreme Court
People from Monticello, Mississippi
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