Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force
Jerry Patterson, Commissioner, Texas General Land Office & Commissioner of Texas Veterans Land Board
Born in Houston, Texas on November 15, 1946 Jerry Patterson graduated from Texas A&M, Class of 1969 and receiving his commission in the United States Marine Corps, Patterson volunteered for duty in Vietnam in 1972 and was later designated as a Naval Flight Officer and served in Marine fighter squadrons until his retirement from the Marine Corps Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1993.
Five consecutive generations of Pattersons family have served our nation in time of war.
As state senator for District 11 (Harris, Galveston, Brazoria), Pattersons major legislative successes include passage of the historic concealed handgun law, a constitutional amendment allowing home equity lending, the state coastal management plan and the creation of the Texas State Veterans Home Program. A tireless advocate for his fellow veterans, he chaired the first Veterans Affairs committee in the Texas Senate.
Jerry resides in Austin and has four children, twins Samantha and Cole, born in 2004, Emily and Travis. His daughter Emily is an attorney working in Kosovo for an agency funded by the U.S. State Department. His son Travis is a graduate of Texas A&M, where he was commissioned as a Marine Lieutenant. He recently returned from serving his 2nd tour of duty in Iraq as a U.S. Marine attack helicopter pilot.