L. Brooks Patterson

Lewis Brooks Patterson (January 4, 1939 – August 3, 2019) was an American lawyer and politician. He served as County Executive of Oakland County, Michigan in Metro Detroit from 1992 until his death. Patterson became the subject of controversy after making what some considered to be inflammatory remarks about the city of Detroit that were reported in 2014.

Education
Born in Loogootee, Indiana, Patterson graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy in 1957. He served in the United States Army from 1962 to 1964. He received a Bachelor's degree from the University of Detroit, and his Juris Doctor in 1967 from its law school. In 2005, he was Alumnus of the Year at his alma mater.

Career
L. Brooks Patterson opposed the desegregation busing plan related to Detroit Public Schools up to the U.S. Supreme Court, which decided Milliken v. Bradley.

Patterson faced criticism after comments he made about the city of Detroit, widely seen as "controversial" and "negative", were released in an article entitled "Drop Dead, Detroit!". Patterson was quoted as saying, among other things, "What we're going to do is turn Detroit into an Indian reservation, where we herd all the Indians into the city, build a fence around it, and then throw in the blankets and corn".

In 2016, Patterson led a legal challenge to the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Oakland County.

Following 16 years as the Prosecutor of Oakland County, he was elected in 1992 to the office of County Executive. He was re-elected to a sixth term in 2012.

During his years as County Executive, Patterson faced serious health problems, twice undergoing surgery to place stents to control blood flow and, in August 2012, being severely injured as the passenger in a car crash that left him hospitalized for a month and then placed in a medical facility for physical rehabilitation. His driver was paralyzed. While in care in October 2012, Patterson dismissed claims that his injuries left him unfit to serve if reelected. Patterson sometimes used a wheelchair due to the injuries he suffered in the accident. In March 2019 Patterson revealed he has stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and would not seek re-election the following year.

Personal life
In 2007, Patterson lost his son, Brooks Stuart Patterson, in a snowmobile accident and, later that year, lost his twin brother Stephen Patterson. In 2008, he established the Brooksie Way Half Marathon in memory of his son. The event is sponsored by local businesses and draws participants from the Oakland University campus and area residents.

Patterson died on August 3, 2019. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier in the year.