Swimming for his High School, he was on 200 and 400-yard freestyle relay teams that won State Championships, and established a new national record.

Patterson helped lead the team to four consecutive Central Collegiate Conference Championships,[8][1] winning two NCAA backstroke titles at National meets.

[5] Patterson competed in the semifinals of the men's 100-meter backstroke, and finished ninth overall with a time of 1:09.9, not making the final heat.

[6] After his swimming career ended, Patterson served with Detroit's Michigan State Liquor Control Commission.

After chasing a youth outside a downtown Port Huron area bar where he had been inspecting for ages, he was struck by a man against whom he charged assault.

His daughter Sheila was a University of Michigan medical school graduate who was an emergency room Doctor, later in private practice.