Veteran activist Jack Patterson of West Lafayette inducted into Ohio Hall of Fame

Leonard L. Hayhurst, Coshocton Tribune
·3 min read

COLUMBUS − Jack Patterson of West Lafayette has been inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. The 32nd annual induction ceremony featuring 20 honorees will be in November.

Patterson is the former mayor of West Lafayette and has represented Veterans of Foreign Wars on the Coshocton County Veterans Service Commission since 2006. His term ends in 2026. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War era from 1966 to 1969.

"I think it's a real honor," Patterson said of the induction. "It's always good for what veterans of Ohio do. It's recognizing everything they've done, so I'm just proud to be part of that group."

Jack Patterson of West Lafayette is being inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Family. He's on the Coshocton County Veterans Service Commission and has served at more than 1,100 funerals as part of the Coshocton County Honor Guard.
Jack Patterson of West Lafayette is being inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Family. He's on the Coshocton County Veterans Service Commission and has served at more than 1,100 funerals as part of the Coshocton County Honor Guard.

Patterson has also been a member of the Coshocton County Honor Guard since 2006 and has served as chaplain since 2008. In 2021, Patterson was honored for being present at more than 1,000 military funerals as part of the honor guard. He's now served at more than 1,100.

The other honor guard members with more than 1,000 funerals are David Dilly, Tommy Apple, Fred Lent, Jack Lipps, James Stone and George Leach. Dilly was inducted into the Veterans Hall of Fame in 2017 and nominated Patterson along with his wife, Patty.

"I really want to see and help the family with their closure and I want them to realize this man or lady that passed was a veteran, it meant something to them and, in turn, it means something to me for the family to see that," Patterson said of his honor guard work.

Patterson returned to Coshocton after getting out of the army. He briefly worked for General Electric before moving to Western Southern Insurance. He retired in 2004 after 35 years of service.

He also served as a part-time police officer in West Lafayette in 1976. In 1979, he won a seat on village council and then became mayor in 1983. He lost re-election, but was elected again in 1995 and served until 2015. He's the longest serving mayor in West Lafayette history.

Patterson has also been commander of the West Lafayette American Legion since 1981 and is a lifetime member of many local veterans organizations. He's also been a guardian on three Honor Flight trips and a passenger on another. The program flies military veterans to Washington D.C. to visit historical sites.

"I enjoy being with them and hearing stories of their military career," Patterson of working with other veterans.

Even at the age of 77 he doesn't look to slow down anytime soon with his work regarding military veterans in Coshocton County.

"Veterans have always been very important in my life. I've seen a lot happen with veterans and mistreatment of veterans and not getting the proper treatment by the government and so on. I've just never been pleased or happy with that and I thought if I can do something on my own, whatever I can do," he said. "As long as I'm healthy and able to do things to help veterans, I want to. I just want to help out."

Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @llhayhurst.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Jack Patterson of West Lafayette added to Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame