Grady Patterson died he was 85

Grady Leslie Patterson, Jr.died he was 85. Patterson was the South Carolina State Treasurer and a United States Air Force General.^[1] In Grady L. Patterson, Jr.’s thirty years as South Carolina State Treasurer, he has been responsible for many of the changes that modernized state government and protected South Carolina’s citizens. During his tenure, South Carolina transformed itself from an agricultural economy to one strong in manufacturing and technology, but certain financial truths never changed for Treasurer Patterson.

(January 13, 1924–December 7, 2009)

Born in Calhoun Falls, South Carolina, Patterson graduated from University of South Carolina. He served in World War II and was State Treasurer of South Carolina for thirty-seven years.^[2]

For years South Carolina was an innovator in the management of public funds under the guidance of Treasurer Patterson. He has always advocated common sense conservative management policies. State officials recognized Grady Patterson’s leadership, and he has often been the voice for responsible fiscal management in often-contentious policy debates.

Because of his common sense approach to state government, Patterson promoted several initiatives to keep state spending on a tight leash and to make the Treasurer’s Office more responsive to the needs of South Carolinians.

In 2006, he was defeated for reelection by Republican Thomas Ravenel.

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