Patty was an assistant attorney general before Governor Thomas Stanley appointed him after the resignation of his boss, J. Lindsay Almond.
Kenneth Cartwright Patty was born in Parrottsville, Tennessee, to Minnie (née Bushong) and William Monroe Petty.
He attended a year and a half at Washington and Lee Law School before serving in World War I.
[2][3] He succeed J. Lindsay Almond, member of the Democratic political organization led by Senator Harry F. Byrd, who stepped down to run for Governor during the Massive Resistance crisis in Virginia.
[3][citation needed] Patty's tenure at the position ended after the election of Albertis Harrison.