Nathaniel "Nat" Patterson - Ft. Meade, FL
Posted by: 
lazyCachers
N 27° 45.118 W 081° 48.105
17R E 420988 N 3069984
Located on the Ft. Meade City Hall on the corner of US 17 and Broadway St.
Waymark Code: WM3D5P
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 03/17/2008
Views: 18
The blue plaque for Nathaniel "Nat" Patterson, was created as part of The Great Floridians 2000 Program. According to the Florida Department of State website about this program (
visit link): "The Great Floridians 2000 program was designed to recognize individuals who distinguished themselves through their philanthropy, public service or personal or professional service, and who have enhanced the lives of Florida's citizens. In 1998, the Florida Department of State and the Florida League of Cities, to help celebrate the approaching turn of the century, initiated the program to dedicate a special series of commemorative plaques in cities throughout the state. These plaques recognized "Great Floridians 2000" by honoring men and women who made significant contributions to the history and culture of our state."
"Anyone could nominate an individual to be designated a Great Floridian 2000 by submitting a Great Floridians 2000 application. These applications were periodically reviewed by the appointed Great Floridians 2000 Committee, a group of seven distinguished historians from throughout Florida. The applications included the listing of an historical property where the plaque was affixed that was associated with the Great Floridian. Once the decisions were made, nominators were notified and advised on how and where to purchase the commemorative plaque."
The following is a biography of Nathaniel "Nat" Patterson, posted on the Great Floridians 2000 Program website (visit link): "Nathaniel "Nat" J. Patterson was born in 1883, a native Floridian. He graduated from Cumberland University with an LLB and Bachelor of Forensic Legal Debate in 1914. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1914 and began law practice in Fort Meade in 1915. He served as an attorney in Fort Meade for 37 years, most of it without pay. He served as Fort Meade City Attorney on three different occasions for 18 years and was elected Mayor in 1926. In 1927 he served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives. He was awarded the Doctor of Jurisprudence by Cumberland Law School (now Samford University), Birmingham, Alabama in 1969. He was a charter member of the Lions Club, a member of Fort Meade Masonic Lodge and active in the Fort Meade Methodist Church, where he established a scholarship for needy boys and girls. Nathaniel Patterson died in 1965. His Great Floridian plaque is located at Fort Meade City Hall, 8 West Broadway, Fort Meade."