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November 30 , 2023 The Beacon • 23
Patterson inducted into the Veterans Hall of Fame
By Jen Jones
Submitted
Jack Patterson , third from left , was recently inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame . Joining him at the ceremony were daughter-in-law Claire , son Troy and his wife Christy .
“ I could have fallen off my chair . I was so happy and pleased I had tears in my eyes . It was a dream of mine .” That ’ s how Jack Patterson described the moment he answered the phone and was told he was among this year ’ s inductees into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame .
Every year hundreds of veterans are nominated for the hall of fame . Each are considered by a special committee who decide the inductees . The committee considers military service , public service and what the veteran does to help other veterans when they make their decision . Around 20 are chosen each year .
“ A while ago Dave and Patty Dilly were asking me a bunch of questions about what I did in the Army and what I ’ ve done since . I didn ’ t think much of it at the time , but I finally kind of got the idea what they were doing ,” Patterson said .
Patterson enlisted in the Army in 1966 for three years . He chose the delayed entry program so he could be at home for 120 days before he left . He wanted to be either in electronics or auto school after basic training at Fort Jackson in North Carolina .
After basic training he went to Fort Gordon in Georgia for his advanced training in electronics . “ When I was in school , each graduating class got rotated to different places — Vietnam , Korea or Germany and the United States . I spent 13 months in Korea at an isolated site . There were five or six GIs onsite . After that , I went to Fort Knox .”
He became an instructor there and taught radio basics to new recruits . “ They were just out of basic training and listened so intently to what I was saying ,” Patterson said .
Patterson was discharged in February 1969 and expected to return to General Electric , as they were holding his job for him .
“ I got back in time for them to go on strike . I wasn ’ t sure what I ’ d do with no job . But in June a sales person from Western and Southern Life Insurance Company asked if I would be interested in a job as an office supervisor . I spent the next 35 years with that company ,” he said .
During his years selling insurance , Patterson also became a part-time police officer in West Lafayette , then a village council member . As a council member , he helped create an auxiliary police unit and advocated for more diversity in the department . Patterson was elected mayor of West Lafayette in 1983 and served in that position for 24 years .
“ That ’ s the longest time anyone has been mayor there ,” Patterson said .
During his time serving West Lafayette , he helped accomplish many things , but one stands out to him . “ I ’ m most proud of being part of the committee that helped create the Troop Train Memorial . It ’ s an important part of history ,” he said .
Patterson retired from selling insurance in 2004 and as mayor in 2015 . He still serves as the chaplain for the honor guard and has participated in more than 1,120 funerals . “ I always feel honored that I ’ m able to do that ,” he said .
Patterson has been a veterans service commissioner for 23 years and is president of the Coshocton County Veterans Council .
“ I saw something a while ago about the Veterans Hall of Fame , and it became a dream of mine to be in it someday . There are so many very important people in it .
Veterans have always been important to me , and I like working to help and honor them ,” Patterson said .
He is a member of many local veterans organizations and holds offices in some . “ The camaraderie of these groups means a lot to me . It ’ s good to just sit and talk about the past ,” Patterson said .
Patterson was a guardian for three Honor Flights . “ When they first started , it was World War II vets going . I always enjoyed sitting and hearing about that era . It is fascinating to me . I wanted to help a veteran get to go . I had a veteran in a wheelchair and one who was able to walk each time . The fourth time I was on an Honor Flight , I was one of the veterans ,” he said .
Patterson said he enjoys collecting West Lafayette historical items . “ I ’ m always looking for old pictures or postcards of the area . Except for when I was in the Army and when I lived in Coshocton for a few years , I ’ ve been right here in West Lafayette . I love this town ,” he said .
When Patterson ’ s son Troy learned he was going to be inducted into the hall of fame , Troy and his wife Claire drove from Texas so they could be there for Patterson ’ s special day . “ He drove us to Columbus . I ’ m so happy they could be with me .”
The evening before the induction ceremony , a dinner was held , and every inductee was asked to stand and introduce themselves and share a little about themselves . “ It was scary but wonderful ,” Patterson said .
He shared a moment that made him very proud at the dinner . Miss Ohio Madison Miller was the guest speaker for the evening . “ She introduced me as her favorite honor guard member and asked me to stand up . I was so proud . She ’ s just amazing and does such a wonderful job for veterans ,” Patterson said .
Patterson met Gov . Mike DeWine and Lt . Gov . Jon Husted .
“ I got so many wonderful proclamations , and we each received a medal as we were inducted . Mine has 987 on the back . I ’ m the 987th member of the hall of fame . It was just such an honor to be inducted and to join this fine group of people ,” he said . “ I really want to thank my wife Christy and son and daughter-in-law Troy and Claire for supporting me and being with me . It was a special time .”
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