Patterson, L. Brooks

Oakland County (Michigan) Prosecutor, later Oakland County Executive (1992-).

Patterson received a bachelor's degree from the University of Detroit, and his Juris Doctorate in 1967 from its law school. Upon graduation, he was hired by the Oakland County Prosecuting Attorney as an assistant prosecutor. He left that post in 1971, and in 1972 he ran for Oakland County Prosecutor, winning and serving in this capacity until 1988, when he left for a private law practice. He ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 1978. In 1992, Patterson was elected Oakland County Executive. He was three-times re-elected. While in this position, Patterson has been involved in many issues, particularly Oakland County-Detroit relations, economic development in Oakland County, and the founding of Automation Alley.

In his career, Patterson has received many honors, including the State of Israel Eleanor Roosevelt Humanities Award in 1996, the March of Dimes Humanitarian of the Year Award; Oakland County Distinguished Citizen of 1991; and the Outstanding Young Men of Michigan Award in 1973. In 1980, Patterson founded the Rainbow Connection, a charity that grants wishes to children with life threatening illnesses.