Dr. Harold Dean Patterson Sr.

Harold Dean Patterson Sr., 81, of Guntersville, AL passed away Monday, September 2nd at his residence. Harold was the son of the late Obed Howard and Sara Bell Joyner Patterson of Alexander City, Alabama. Dr. Patterson received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education at Auburn University in Auburn, AL where he played basketball his first two years, starting alongside famed coach Vince Dooley. A Second Lieutenant Tank Commander in the Army, he then went on to receive his Masters and Doctorate in Education at Vanderbilt School of Education Peabody College in Nashville, TN. Patterson’s education career began as a principal at Evanston Township High School. He was the Inaugural Principal of Mountain Brook High School in Mountain Brook, Alabama. A superintendent for 25 years, Dr. Patterson has been honored as one of the Outstanding Top 100 Educators in North America on several different occasions. This prestigious award is chosen by nationally recognized experts on school administration. A notable achievement of Dr. Patterson’s was that he crafted a reorganization plan and rezoned school attendance to bring school systems into compliance with Civil Rights Acts requirements. Also as the result of some of his work, the School Improvement Act of 1984 was initiated. Dr. Patterson served on the Auburn National Advisory Council and is an Emeritus Member of the College of Education at Auburn University. This award was bestowed on him in 2012. The Harold and Shirley Patterson Endowed Scholarship in the College of Education is one of his prides and joy. He presented his most recent scholarship a week ago. Many students at Guntersville High School have received scholarships from Harold and Shirley Patterson to pursue higher education. Patterson was also an active member of The Guntersville Rotary Club — with perfect attendance for 50+ years — the 1865 Society, 1915 Society, the Guntersville Chamber of Commerce, a council member for the Boy Scouts of America and a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church of Guntersville. He also served as the past District President for Rotary International and president of the AASA. An ordinary man with an extraordinary life, Patterson was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Anne Bryant Patterson. He is survived by his children, Lisa Patterson Stubbs (Harold), Anne Patterson Harper (David) and Hal Patterson Jr. (Kelly); grandchildren: Sara, Christopher and Emily Stubbs, Jordan and Chase Harper, and Tripp and Landry Patterson. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 4th at Carr Funeral Home in Guntersville, AL. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, September 5th, at First United Methodist Church of Guntersville. Family will also receive friends beginning at 10 a.m. prior to funeral services. Interment will follow at Alexander City Cemetery in Alexander City, Alabama. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: The Harold and Shirley Patterson Endowed Scholarship in the College of Education at Auburn University. 317 S College St. Auburn, AL 36830.

Dr. Harold Dean Patterson Sr.

May 29, 1932 - September 2, 2013