- Okey L. Patteson
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Okey L. Patteson 23rd Governor of West Virginia In office
1949–1953Preceded by Clarence W. Meadows Succeeded by William C. Marland Personal details Born September 14, 1898
Mingo County, West VirginiaDied July 3, 1989 (aged 90)
Beckley, West VirginiaPolitical party Democratic Spouse(s) Lee Hawse Patteson Profession Politician Religion Methodist Okey Leonidas Patteson (September 14, 1898 – July 3, 1989) was born in Mingo County, West Virginia. He was the 23rd Governor of West Virginia for the term following the 1948 election. He was a member of the United States Democratic Party and of the "machine" that totally controlled politics in that era in the state.
He is best known for his decision to place the state's first medical school at West Virginia University in Morgantown, in the northern part of the state, rather than in the more centrally located Charleston. A section of West Virginia Route 705 leading to West Virginia University Hospitals is named Patteson Drive in his honor.
He also is known for the initial construction of the West Virginia Turnpike, which was to be a 4-lane road system throughout the state, although, after his term, it was superseded by the interstate highway system, with only a 2-lane section between Charleston and Princeton ever completed.
After his term he served as general manager of the Turnpike.
External links
Political offices Preceded by
Clarence W. MeadowsGovernor of West Virginia
1949–1953Succeeded by
William C. MarlandGovernors of West Virginia Boreman · Farnsworth · Stevenson · Jacob · Mathews · Jackson · Wilson · Fleming · MacCorkle · Atkinson · White · Dawson · Glasscock · Hatfield · Cornwell · Morgan · Gore · Conley · Kump · Holt · Neely · Meadows · Patteson · Marland · Underwood · Barron · Smith · Moore · Rockefeller · Moore · Caperton · Underwood · Wise · Manchin · TomblinCategories:- 1898 births
- 1989 deaths
- Governors of West Virginia
- People from Mingo County, West Virginia
- American Methodists
- West Virginia Democrats
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