On this day in Alabama history: Albert Patterson won Democratic primary for AG
Phenix City attorney Albert Patterson (1894-1954) was murdered soon after his victory in the Democratic primary for Alabama attorney general. His death sparked a crackdown on organized crime and corruption in the city. He also served as an Alabama state senator from 1947 to 1951. (From Encyclopedia of Alabama, Courtesy of Alan Grady)
June 10, 1954
Albert Patterson won the Democratic primary for state attorney general. He won the nomination after promising to clean up Phenix City, then known as the “wickedest city in America” for its long history of illegal gambling, prostitution, alcohol sales, organized crime and corrupt politicians. Patterson was murdered eight days later. His death spurred the state into action and led to 734 indictments and the complete dismantlement of organized crime in Phenix City in six months. Patterson’s son, John Patterson, took office as attorney general in 1955 and successfully ran for governor in 1958. Albert Patterson was inducted into the Alabama Lawyers Hall of Fame in 2015.
Read more at Encyclopedia of Alabama.
Statue of Albert L. Patterson (1896-1954), soldier, educator, attorney, state senator, attorney general-elect, on grounds of state Capitol in Montgomery. (The George F. Landegger Collection of Alabama Photographs in Carol M. Highsmith’s America, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division)
For more on Alabama’s Bicentennial, visit Alabama 200.
