Harold Patterson (1929-2009) was more than a lifelong Arlington resident; he was a well-accomplished man who served his community for decades.

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Intro

Harold Patterson served as Arlington’s mayor from 1983 to 1987. I was surprised to learn that his mayoral term began on the day I was born—he entered the mayor’s world; I entered the world.

While I was born in Arlington, I grew up in the neighboring town of Mansfield. I moved to Arlington in 2007, and since then, I’ve lived across from the Harold Patterson Sports Center, a 135-acre park with soccer, baseball, and softball fields. It’s such an odd coincidence to share with Mr. Patterson—first, the parallels in April 1983, and later, living near his namesake park for over 15 years. Although we never met, I felt a connection to the man and had to learn more about him.

Early life

Harold Eugene Patterson was born in Arlington, Texas, on March 27, 1929. What a year to be born. He was just over six months old when the Stock Market crashed and the historic aftermath that followed. Harold was the youngest of 14 children—seven brothers and six sisters. I can’t imagine raising a family with 14 children in the Great Depression. I suppose folks were more resilient back then simply because there was no other option. Resiliency and resourcefulness would become traits that Patterson seemed to employ throughout his life.

Harold’s father passed away when he was eight years old. The young man went on to attend Arlington High School but quit school in the 11th grade to help support his mother. He would then serve two years with the United States Marine Corps and return to Arlington to be with his family after his service.

He met his future wife, Frances Louise English, after noticing her in the store where he bagged groceries as a young man. He knew right away that she was the one, and they married in 1949 after a brief courtship. Sadly, their first son, Billy, died as an infant in the early 1950s. The Pattersons later would have two other children, Michael and Teresa.

Career and Public Service

Patterson worked on a farm owned by his father-in-law but had other career aspirations. He began his banking career as a teller at a Grand Prairie bank and later served as president of four banks in Arlington.

His obituary lists several civic accomplishments, noting that he served as president of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, president of the Arlington Lions Club, president of the Arlington Boys Club, a member of the Education Advisory Board for the Arlington Independent School District, and a member of the Arlington Parks and Recreation Board.

Local Government

Mr. Patterson served on Arlington’s City Council for over 20 years, from 1966 to 1987. He became Mayor Pro Tem in 1977 and was elected Arlington Mayor on April 12, 1983. Mayor Patterson would serve two terms until April 1987, when he decided not to run again.

As part of his election bid, he wanted to increase funding for city streets and thoroughfares, with the budget for these doubling during his terms as mayor. “Unity” was his central political theme, and he encouraged the local government, businesses, and citizens to work together and form positive relationships.

Patterson’s mayoral tenure was largely seen as stable, successful, and perhaps even admirably understated. His most significant impact was that he saved taxpayers’ money, though. The City of Arlington’s website explains, “Under his direction and leadership as Mayor, the city earned its very first AA Bond rating. Bonds are [then] sold at a much cheaper rate, generating decades of savings for Arlington taxpayers.” Further, the city’s water supply was treated with fluoride during his tenure, improving residents’ dental health.

Arlington’s growth in the 1980s

The 1980s were a significant period in Arlington, a decade that sometimes gets overshadowed by more prominent eras of the city’s history—such as the Mayor Vandergriff era that came before (1951-1977) and the tourism growth from our Entertainment District, which came after (1994-present). Yet, sandwiched between those two eras were the 1980s and Arlington’s tremendous population growth. Arlington’s population was 160,113 in 1980; by 1990, it was 261,721. With an increase of over 100,000 people—the largest increase in a single decade of Arlington’s history—the number is one-fourth of our current population. While Arlington continues to grow, another population boom like the one from the 1980s is unlikely. City leadership during this time was crucial for successful growth.

During Mayor Patterson’s tenure and leadership, Arlington began developing economic projects, including The Parks Mall, Lincoln Square shopping center, and the Arlington Convention Center. These may sound fairly innocuous, but the economic effects were substantial, especially the Parks Mall, which opened in 1988. It was one of the first major retail areas along the I-20 corridor. Arlington’s population center shifted south toward the action as more retail stores poured into the area. Housing developments sprang up seemingly overnight, and developers built many of the neighborhoods in south Arlington in the 1980s. Today, the I-20 corridor in south Arlington is a bustling area, home to the Arlington Highlands shopping center, several auto dealerships, and other clusters of retail and restaurants. The Parks Mall still anchors the area, as it has for over 35 years—while the areas around and south of I-20 house most of the city’s residents.

Harold Patterson Sports Center

Arlington dedicated the Harold Patterson Sports Center on April 24, 1990. While not a traditional park, as it mainly contains sports fields, it is the largest recreation area in south Arlington and one of the city’s largest parks. I believe the Arlington Soccer Association primarily uses the fields, although it has over 20 fields for adult and youth soccer, baseball, and softball, and sometimes even hosts flag football or cricket games. It’s an expansive area, stretching from Wimbledon Drive to Bardin Road, and sits adjacent to the busyness of Cooper Street. It can get crowded on weekends when there are games scheduled. It’s located adjacent to The Village at Sports Center, a popular area for restaurants and shops. Although “The Village” is much newer than the park, the two feed off each other, which likely was the intent, as many folks attending games might want a bite to eat before or afterward. It’s a win-win for south Arlington, providing an economic boost and recreation opportunities.

GED and education advocate

Most surprising to me was that Mr. Patterson accomplished so much without a high school diploma. He completed his GED in 1992 at the age of 63. The achievement was to fulfill a promise to his late mother, who passed away in 1957. “It is never too late to learn,” Patterson’s obituary quoted him as saying. It’s unknown why he waited as long as he did, yet, he became an advocate and encouraged others to finish their high school education.

Later life, death, and legacy

Although he enjoyed hobbies of fishing, hunting, and playing dominoes, after retirement, Patterson found himself looking for something more significant to occupy his time. Undoubtedly feeding on his banking experience, he started his own property tax consulting business. He became interested in the Tarrant Appraisal District and was elected to their board.

Harold passed away on March 20, 2009, at age 79, after a battle with leukemia. The funeral was held at the First Baptist Church, where he and his family were longtime members. His wife of 60 years, Louise, two children, six grandchildren, and a great-grandchild survived him. Louise passed away on March 1, 2021, at 89.

Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are buried next to each other at Arlington Cemetery. Patterson left a legacy of public service and a desire to better his community. A wfaa.com article after his death referred to Patterson as “Mr. Arlington”—a fitting tribute to a man who was born, lived, and tirelessly served here.

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Additional reading

City of Arlington. “Harold Patterson – City of Arlington.” Home – City of Arlington, https://www.arlingtontx.gov/residents/about_arlington/history_of_arlington/hall_of_mayors/harold_patterson. Accessed 11 July 2023.

City of Arlington. “Harold Patterson Sports Center – City of Arlington.” Home – City of Arlington, https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/departments/parks_recreation/parks_trails/park_finder/harold_patterson_sports_center. Accessed 11 July 2023.

Find a Grave. “Harold Eugene Patterson (1929-2009) – Find a Grave Memorial.” Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33726157/harold-eugene-patterson. Accessed 11 July 2023.

Saxe, Allan A. Politics of Arlington, Texas. 2001.

WFAA Staff. “Harold Patterson, Former Mayor Known as ‘Mr. Arlington,’ Dies at 79 | Wfaa.Com.” Wfaa.Com, WFAA, 16 Oct. 2009, https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/harold-patterson-former-mayor-known-as-mr-arlington-dies-at-79/287-411448179.

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Photo Credits:
Harold Patterson photos from Find a Grave, added by Devin Pipes, historian for the Patterson family.
www.findagrave.com/memorial/33726157/harold-eugene-patterson

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Blog post and other photos by Jason S. Sullivan, 07-11-23