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Catalina Rotary Club Member Bio

Pat Patton
Economic Development

Pat Patton

My Rotary Story

My most interesting projects that impacted me as a Rotarian were:
1. Obtaining a Rotary International Grant to fund a wheelchair factory in Nogales, Sonora, which later added a hearing clinic, and a prosthetics shop. Purchasing a van for the wheelchair factory to provide services in rural areas, schools, factories, hospitals, and other remote locations.
2. Organizing annual Tucson Rotary Club Christmas trips to San Carlos, Mexico. Over the course of several years we did many projects, including:
Digging a water well, adding a windmill pump and water tank for a village
Providing solar power to a school
Giving individual Christmas presents to two schools we adopted
Building a soccer field with artificial grass
Donating books and computers to the schools
Hosting a barbecue lunch for students and their families
Fostering a relationship with the Rotary Club of San Carlos
Creating a college scholarship for students in El Paso Public School District from an endowment from a deceased El Paso public school teacher
3. Participating in and organizing multiple tours for Rotarians of humanitarian assistance organizations in Sonora, Mexico
4. Working with District 5500 Rotary Clubs, as District International Service Chair, to do international humanitarian service projects around the world

Full Name
Dr. William Palmer Patton, II

Nickname
Pat

Partner Name
Lynette

Place of Birth
Ft. Belvoir, Virginia

Hometown
Richardson, Texas

Education
Richardson High School, Diploma, 1971
Texas Tech University, BA, Economics, 1975
Texas Tech University, MA, Economics, 1976
Texas A&M University, PhD, Agricultural Economics, 1980
Thunderbird (American Grad. School for Intl. Mgt.), MBA in International Mgt, 2002

How long in Tucson
32 years as of 2024

Family
Wife, Lynette; 2 sons; 2 granddaughters

Current Position
Rotary District 5500 International Service Chair

Major Career Milestones
Research Economist, Battelle Pacific Northwest Energy Laboratory
Economist & Corporate Planner, Western Company of North America
Chase Econometrics, Director World Energy Forecasting Service
Texas Utilities Electric Company, Sr. Corporate Economist
Adjunct Professor, Texas Christian University, M. J. Neeley College of Business
Adjunct Professor, The University of Arizona
Tucson Electric Power Company
Director Marketing
Director Corporate Re-engineering
Director Forecasting
Director Economic Development
Loaned Executive
Greater Tucson Economic Council
Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities (now Sun Corridor)
Senior Economic Research Analyst, The University of Arizona, Eller Business School

When joined Catalina Rotary/Sponsor
2023, Ted Forsberg

Rotary Milestones
Rotary Club of Tucson, Member
El Paso Rotary Club, Board of Directors & War Horse Award
Catalina Rotary Club Tucson, Member
Rotary District 5500
International Service Chair
Chair International Project Fair


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