Obie Patterson, former member of the Maryland House of Delegates, graduated from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1965 with a B.S. in Biology. He completed his graduate studies at the University of Florida, Gainesville, in 1971 with an M.A. in Public Administration. While serving as National Alumni President of his alma mater, Johnson C. Smith University, he oversaw a two-million-dollar fund raising campaign for the university's Scholarship Endowment Program. He remains active on the Board of Trustees and serves as Chair of the Student Affairs Committee.
Before being elected to public office, he worked 30 years at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in several areas of his expertise, which included Research Biologist, Management Analyst, Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist and Program Analyst. He also served as an adjunct professor at Bowie State University and at Prince George's Community College.
Obie Patterson was first elected as a Maryland State Delegate for Prince George's County in November of 1994. He was reelected in 1998 and again in 2002. During his terms in the Maryland General Assembly he chaired and served on several committees and subcommittees, some of which included Ways and Means, Commerce and Government Matters, Protocol, Tax and Revenue, Transportation, County Affairs and Education. He served as Chair of the County Affairs Committee and the Subcommittee on Election Law. He was a member of the Ways and Means Committee, the Joint Committee on Protocol, and the Joint Committee on Children, Youth and Families. He served as the House Floor Deputy Majority Whip and as the House Assistant Majority Leader.
In 2002 Obie Patterson was elected Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, where he had previously served as its Treasurer. The Caucus is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, public policy, research and educational resource dedicated to the principles of political, economic and social parity for all people. As Chairman of the Caucus he built coalitions to enhance the quality of life for all Marylanders and beyond. His goal in this capacity was to continue the crusade to empower citizens in areas of economic development, minority contracting, education, improved health care, the environment, voting rights, and other areas of primary concern.
Obie Patterson has received numerous honors and awards, both locally and nationally, which include the Johnson C. Smith University Trustee's Award, the Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. Brother of the Year Award, the Prince George's County Educators Award, the Prince George's County Realtor Award and a Father of the Year Award. Obie Patterson is involved in numerous state, national, civic and community organizations. He is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the Pi Sigma National Honor Society, the NAACP, the Roscoe C. Cartwright Prince Hall Masons, and the Prince George's Volunteer Action Center, to name a few. He is a faithful member and Trustee of Fort Foote Baptist Church in Fort Washington, Maryland. He is the proud father of three children and two grandchildren.
Obie Patterson, former member of the Maryland House of Delegates, graduated from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1965 with a B.S. in Biology. He completed his graduate studies at the University of Florida, Gainesville, in 1971 with an M.A. in Public Administration. While serving as National Alumni President of his alma mater, Johnson C. Smith University, he oversaw a two-million-dollar fund raising campaign for the university's Scholarship Endowment Program. He remains active on the Board of Trustees and serves as Chair of the Student Affairs Committee.
Before being elected to public office, he worked 30 years at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in several areas of his expertise, which included Research Biologist, Management Analyst, Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist and Program Analyst. He also served as an adjunct professor at Bowie State University and at Prince George's Community College.