In Memory: Remembering Eugene Corbett Patterson on Their Death Anniversary (January 12)

Eugene Corbett Patterson died on January 12, 2013, after battling cancer. He was 89 years old. Patterson was born in Valdosta, Georgia, but grew up in Adel. He worked on a small farm during the Great Depression, where his mother supported the family. As a teenager, he worked at the Adel News. Patterson went on to have a successful journalism career. He earned the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing in 1967. He was managing editor of The Washington Post when it published the Pentagon Papers. Patterson also worked as the editor of the St. Petersburg Times, which became one of the top ten newspapers in America during his tenure. He was known for his ethical stance, including publishing his own DUI story on the front page. Patterson’s impact extended beyond journalism; he became a strong advocate for civil rights. His death marked the end of a remarkable career.