By Alabama NewsCenter Staff
September 27, 1921: Alabama Gov. John Patterson was born in Goldville, Alabama, in Tallapoosa County, on Sept. 27, 1921. Patterson’s father, Albert, was a school principal before changing careers and opening a law office in Phenix City. The younger Patterson went off to fight for five years in World War II, winning the bronze star. He returned to college and was married after the war. In the 1950s, the elder Patterson was fighting organized crime rings in Phenix City. Running for attorney general of Alabama, Albert Patterson was murdered outside his law office in 1954. John Patterson replaced his father on the ballot and easily won election. In 1958, Patterson was among 14 candidates in the competition to succeed Big Jim Folsom as governor.
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