Alabama Attorney General-elect. In Phenix City, Alabama, he and Hugh Bentley co-founded the Russell Betterment Association, whose goal was to bring honest government back to Phenix City and Russell County, Alabama, and rid the city of organized crime, which ran rampant from 1916 until 1954, earning the city a national reputation of "the wickedest city in America". Patterson was elected on a anti-crime platform and pledged to clean up Phenix City. On June 18, 1954, outside his Phenix City law offices, he was assassinated. In response, the State of Alabama declared martial rule and sent in the National Guard to restore honest government and bring those behind the corruption and crime to justice. One of those brought to justice and convicted was Patterson's killer, Albert Fuller, a Chief Russell County, Alabama, Sheriff's Deputy who ran a protection racket and forced young women into prostitution. Patterson's son, John, would be elected Attorney General in his place, and in 1958, was elected Governor of Alabama.
Alabama Attorney General-elect. In Phenix City, Alabama, he and Hugh Bentley co-founded the Russell Betterment Association, whose goal was to bring honest government back to Phenix City and Russell County, Alabama, and rid the city of organized crime, which ran rampant from 1916 until 1954, earning the city a national reputation of "the wickedest city in America". Patterson was elected on a anti-crime platform and pledged to clean up Phenix City. On June 18, 1954, outside his Phenix City law offices, he was assassinated. In response, the State of Alabama declared martial rule and sent in the National Guard to restore honest government and bring those behind the corruption and crime to justice. One of those brought to justice and convicted was Patterson's killer, Albert Fuller, a Chief Russell County, Alabama, Sheriff's Deputy who ran a protection racket and forced young women into prostitution. Patterson's son, John, would be elected Attorney General in his place, and in 1958, was elected Governor of Alabama.
Bio by: Steve Williams
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