Remembering Eugene Corbett Patterson’s birthday: reflections on the career of the American journalist (October 15)

Eugene Corbett Patterson was born on October 15, 1923, in Valdosta, Georgia. His family moved to Adel during the Great Depression. They lived on a small farm without running water or electricity. Patterson worked at the Adel News as a teenager. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1943 with a journalism degree. Patterson served as a tank commander in World War II, earning a Silver Star and Bronze Star. After the war, he began his journalism career. He worked for several newspapers, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and was known for his strong editorial stance. In 1967, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing. Patterson later became managing editor of The Washington Post. He fought for civil rights and ethics in journalism. Patterson also served as editor of the St. Petersburg Times. He died in 2013 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.