Jerry E. Patterson
Jerry E. Patterson
Jerry E. Patterson is a Marine Corps veteran, former state senator, and longtime public servant who served as Texas Land Commissioner from 2003 to 2015. A graduate of Texas A&M University (Class of 1969), he received his commission in the U.S. Marine Corps and volunteered for service in Vietnam in 1972. He went on to serve as a Naval Flight Officer in Marine fighter squadrons, retiring from the Marine Corps Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1993. Patterson represents the fifth consecutive generation in his family to serve in the U.S. military during wartime.
During his time in the Texas Senate (1993–1999), representing District 11, Patterson authored landmark legislation including the state’s original concealed handgun law, a constitutional amendment enabling home equity lending, and the creation of the Texas State Veterans Home Program. He also chaired the Senate’s first Veterans Affairs Committee and championed coastal protection through the state’s coastal management plan.
As Texas Land Commissioner, Patterson oversaw state lands, coastal preservation efforts, and veterans’ programs, while also playing a leadership role in historic preservation projects.
Today, Patterson lives in Austin. He is the proud father of four children, including a son who followed his footsteps into the Marine Corps and served multiple combat tours as an attack helicopter pilot.