SC State Sen. Kay Patterson (c) receives an honorary degree of doctor of public service at USC SC State Sen. Kay Patterson was awarded an honorary degree of doctor of public service at USC commencement exercises last week. He was cited for his steadfast support of education and his outspoken role as a moving force in promoting and affecting positive changes for SC’s less privileged citizens.

Following service to his country in the US Marine Corps, Patterson completed his undergraduate degree at Allen University which he began at Claflin College. He began a lengthy social studies teaching career at W.A. Perry Middle School and C.A. Johnson High School. He later taught at Benedict College and was a UniServe representative for the SC Education Association for 16 years.

In 1974 he was elected to the SC House of Representatives, and in 1985, he was elected to the SC Senate, representing District No. 19 in Richland County. He has served on the following Senate committees: Banking and Insurance, Corrections and Penology, Education, Finance, and Transportation.

In 1983, he was designated by the SC House Education Committee to serve on the USC Board of Trustees. In 1990 he was chairman of the SC Legislative Black Caucus. Currently, Sen. Patterson is chairman of the Richland County Legislative Delegation.

Senator Patterson is a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, where he has been senior warden as well as secretary and treasurer of the vestry. He is active in numerous civic and community organizations and has a lifetime membership in the NAACP.

Senator Patterson, a native of Darlington, SC, is married to Jean James of Pinewood, SC. One of the couple’s two children is deceased; they have three grandchildren.