Patterson Jr., Henry T.

Henry T. Patterson Jr.

Henry T. Patterson Jr. was a two-sport All-Erie Shore Conference athlete in foootball and baseball (1992-93) at Lorain Admiral King High School. In 1993, Henry paid the $50 registration fee so he could compete in the OHSAA track and field championships on behalf of AKHS. While he did not qualify for the ’93 State Track Meet, his jumping ability (6’10”) in the district meet, caught the eye of Division I college track coaches. He was offered an athletic scholarship to the University of Toledo (UT)

Henry was one of the most decorated track and field stars in UT history. A decathleteand high jumper, Patterson was a two-time All-American and four-time All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) selection in the high jump. He was named the MAC Outdoor Track Athlete of  the Year in 1996 after he set the Conference record in the high jump. He went on to win the Penn Relays, earn All-American honors in the high jump and was a finalist for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team. He was one of the most outstanding track and field athletes in MAAC history and still holds the UT record for the high jump (7′ 4.5″).  Henry was inducted into the University of Toledo Varsity T Hall of Fame in 2006.

He competed on the professional track circuit from 1998-2005. He finished sixth at the 2005 U.S. Outdoor Championships and fifth at the 2004 U.S. Championships/Olympic Qualifying Meet. His all-time best jump was 7′ 7.25″ at the 1999 Nassau Invitatational Championships.

He was named, an alternate, to the 2000 and 2004 United States Olympic Teams. An avid runner, Henry has completed several marathons, including the 2009 Columbus Marathon, and the 2011 Chicago Marathon and Boston Marathons in 2010 and 2012.

Patterson graduated in 1997 from the University of  Toledo with a political science degree, earned a Masters of Public Administration from Cleveland State University in 2003 and graduated cum laude from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 2010. He is a tenured Assistant Professor of Political Science at Lorain County Community College and Of Counsel with Giardini, Cook & NIcol, LLC.

Henry resides in Lorain, Ohio, with his wife, Debbie, and their three daughters, Sydney, McKenzie and Natalie.