Robert L. Patterson SUMMERVILLE - Robert L. Patterson, 81, of Summerville passed away on March 22, 2015. Bob was born in Louisville, Kentucky on November 9, 1933. He graduated with the last all-boys graduating class of Louisville Male High school in 1951, attended Maryville College (Tenn.), Kentucky Wesleyan College (BA), the University of Kentucky (MA), and Vanderbilt University (PhD). Bob early exhibited a love of teaching, research, and writing and often remarked how lucky he was to be paid to do the things he loved to do most. He taught for over 50 years at various schools, including Kentucky Wesleyan College, the University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University and Armstrong State University (GA). Upon retirement from Armstrong, Bob continued to teach part-time at the College of Charleston, Charleston Southern, and for over a decade at The Citadel. Over the years, he received several student-elected awards for teaching excellence, as well as publishing on topics ranging from anti-New Deal organizations in the 1930s, to radical and reform movements of the 19th and 20th centuries, to literary and political biographies. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Bob became active in human rights and political activities in Savannah, Georgia. He served as VP of the Chatham County Human Relations Council, drafted a model proposal for a Human Relations Commission in Savannah, served as the Co-Chairman of the 1968 Humphrey Campaign for President, and was elected to the Chatham County Democratic Executive Committee. One of Bob's other interests included athletics. He played basketball in college and, later in life, tennis and golf. Along the way he showed a skill as a coach, beginning with his activity as a basketball playing-coach while in the U.S. Army, and extending to a six-year stint in the 1980s as men's tennis coach at Armstrong State University while teaching full-time, during which he was twice named Coach of the Year (South Atlantic Conference and Big South Conference). He also captained several USTA league tennis teams, two of which were Georgia state champions. Bob was predeceased by his parents, B.H. and Ruby Chinn Patterson, his sister Thelma Patterson Ruble, and his first wife, Judith Burgos Patterson. He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Lee Rebl Patterson; three sons, Jonathan (Hana), David, and Thomas (Jennie); and two grandchildren, Phillip and Morgan. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Francis Willis SPCA in Summerville, SC. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.