Roscoe C. Patterson

Roscoe Conkling Patterson (September 15, 1876Template:Spaced ndashOctober 22, 1954) was an American lawyer from Missouri. He was most notable for his service as a United States Representative (1921–1923) and a U.S. Senator (1929–1935).

Early life

Patterson was born in Springfield, Missouri on September 15, 1876.Template:Sfn He attended public and private schools, Drury College, (Springfield) and the University of Missouri in Columbia.Template:Sfn He graduated from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis in 1897, was admitted to the bar later that year, and commenced practice in Springfield.Template:Sfn

Start of career

From 1903 to 1907, Patterson served as prosecuting attorney of Greene County.Template:Sfn In 1912, Patterson was appointed to the Missouri Republican State Committee, and he served until 1920.Template:Sfn

Patterson was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1920 and served in the 67th Congress, March 4, 1921 to March 3, 1923.Template:Sfn He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1922 and resumed the practice of law in Springfield.Template:Sfn He was a presidential elector in 1924.Template:Sfn

From 1925 to 1929, Patterson resided in Kansas City, Missouri and was United States district attorney for the western district of Missouri.Template:Sfn He resigned in February 1929 in preparation to assume the seat in the United States Senate to which he was elected in November 1928.Template:Sfn

U.S. Senate

Patterson won the general election in November 1928.Template:Sfn He took his Senate seat the following year and served one term, March 4, 1929, to January 3, 1935.Template:Sfn While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Mines and Mining (72nd Congress).Template:Sfn His chief legislative accomplishment was sponsorship of the Lindbergh Law, which enabled federal authorities to investigate kidnappings if the victims were transported across state lines.Template:Sfn

Patterson served during the Great Depression, which was largely blamed on Republican economic policies.Template:Sfn He consistently opposed the New Deal remedies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which made him unpopular in Missouri.Template:Sfn As a result, Patterson was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in the 1934 election, losing the general election to the Democratic nominee, Harry S. Truman.Template:Sfn

Later career

After leaving the Senate, Patterson resumed the practice of law in Springfield.Template:Sfn For several years, Patterson was a member of the Missouri Appellate Judicial Commission.Template:Sfn

Death and burial

Patterson suffered a stroke in July 1954.Template:Sfn His health deteriorated and he died in Springfield on October 22, 1954.Template:Sfn He was buried at Maple Park Cemetery in Springfield.Template:Sfn

Family

Patterson was married to Ada Holman of Springfield (1877–1957).Template:Sfn They were the parents of two children, Paul (1902–1924)Template:Sfn and Hadley (1908–1958).Template:Sfn

External links

• Template:PAGENAMEBASE at Find a GraveTemplate:EditAtWikidata
• Gallery of Past U.S. Attorneys for the Western District of Missouri at United States Attorneys Office for the Western District of Missouri

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