ROBERT PATTERSON: from hesitant student to civil rights pioneer By Eve Taye & Stephanie Wilder

Robert Patterson's Journey

Robert Patterson's civil rights journey started at North Carolina A&T State University in 1959 as a freshman from Laurinburg, N.C. While Patterson's first intentions may have not been geared towards civil rights, he couldn't help but to join the cause.

February 1, 1960

Patterson was supposed to be apart of the original February 1st protest but declined to go that day due. He attests that the reason he didn't go was due to the fact that the protest was supposed to happen the day before but students decided to not go through with it and he did not want to miss class again. He later joined the protests with his friends, the A&T Four.

Paving the Way

After graduating in 1963, Patterson found a career in banking and in 1969 he took a position at the then Wachovia Bank & Trust Company, now Wells Fargo, in Winston-Salem, N.C. After accepting the position he became the first African-American to hold a management position at a major bank. He continued on to become a pilar to his community and mentor other young African-American's in the banking industry.

Life After the Bank

After nearly 40 years in banking Patterson retired, but not without his accolades. Through his career Patterson earned various awards including the One Community Award and the Human Relations Service Commission Award from the Greensboro city council. Patterson also served as the vice chairman of the Greensboro chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). Patterson now enjoys spending time with his family and serving his community.