2026 Senate Concurrent Resolution 12

Whereas, It was with great sorrow that the members of the Legislature learned about the passing of Bruce Patterson. He will be remembered as a thoughtful and dedicated public servant by his constituents in Wayne County and the people of our great state; and

Whereas, Bruce Patterson was born in 1947 in Detroit, Michigan. He earned a bachelor’s degree and juris doctor from Wayne State University, degrees he utilized to launch a career that combined private law practice, higher education advancement, and public service; and

Whereas, Throughout the course of his life, Bruce Patterson found much professional success. He worked for over 20 years as an attorney, rising through the ranks from an associate attorney to vice-president and, ultimately, president of McCabe, Middleton & Patterson, P.C. Bruce Patterson also served as the Director of Planned Giving at Eastern Michigan University from 1991 to 1994 and on the Board of Trustees for the Schoolcraft College Foundation; and

Whereas, Bruce Patterson began his career in public service on the local level, serving two terms as a Wayne County Commissioner from 1995 to 1998 before being elected to the House of Representatives in 1998. He served two terms representing the Twenty-first District, during which he served as Associate Speaker Pro Tempore during his first term and as Majority Floor Leader during his second term. Bruce Patterson also served as the chair of both the House Oversight and Operations Committee and the House Redistricting and Elections Committee, in addition to serving as vice chair of the House committees on Constitutional Law and Ethics and House Television and Oversight, and as a member of the House committees on Conservation and Outdoor Recreation, Tax Policy, Transportation, Gaming and Casino Oversight, and Veteran’s Affairs. Additionally, Bruce Patterson served on the Legislative Council. During his time in the House, Bruce Patterson advocated for better nursing home care, led the successful 2002 ballot proposal that authorized up to $1 billion in state bonds for local water pollution control projects, and promoted the implementation of a uniform voting system; and

Whereas, In 2002, Bruce Patterson was elected to serve the Seventh District in the Michigan Senate. He served in the Senate until 2010, during which time he served as chair of the Senate Committee on Energy Policy, Public Utilities, and Technology and Energy, and vice-chair of the Senate committees on Health Policy, Governments Operations and Reform, and Natural Resources and Environment Affairs. Bruce Patterson also served on the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Legislative Council, and the Commission on Uniform State Laws. During his tenure in the Senate, Bruce Patterson continued to champion environmental protections. Moreover, he led the charge on significant public acts to protect consumers from utility shut-offs, provide tax credits to encourage hybrid vehicle research and development, and protect students from criminal sexual conduct by school employees. He left a legacy of protecting consumers, ensuring government transparency, and promoting environmental stewardship. An often-colorful personality with a handlebar mustache, Bruce Patterson was known for challenging any obstacles in his way, even if those obstacles were his own caucus. Inquisitive, knowledgeable, humorous, thoughtful, tenacious, passionate, and devoted were just a few of the words used to describe Bruce Patterson; and

Whereas, Bruce Patterson’s commitment to his community extended beyond his time in office. He was actively involved with many community organizations such as the American Arbitration Association; the Huron Valley Visiting Nurses Fund Board; the Irish-American Lawyers; the Chambers of Commerce for Northville, Plymouth, Canton, Belleville, and Southern Wayne County; the Senior Citizens Kitchen Band; the Canton Economic Club; and the Wayne Out-County Mediation Service. Bruce Patterson also served on the Board of Directors of the Educational Excellence Foundation for the Plymouth-Canton Public Schools; the Canton Community Foundation; and the First of America Bank (now National City Bank). He was the President of the Canton Economic Club, the founder of the Minute Man Foundation, and an honorary chair of the Western Wayne County Salvation Army capital campaign. Additionally, Bruce Patterson was actively engaged in local, and state Republican organizations. His activism was recognized by many organizations with awards from his work on education to healthcare to mental health to public safety to job creation; and

Whereas, Beyond his public service career, Bruce Patterson was a devoted family man. He found great joy in hunting, golfing, fishing, and taking long drives. But through it all, his family remained his greatest joy, and he loved to spend time with his wife, Phyllis, his three children, and four grandchildren; and

Whereas, Upon Bruce Patterson’s passing, we offer our condolences to his loved ones. Bruce Patterson’s contributions to these chambers and the state of Michigan will be remembered; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That we offer this expression of our highest tribute to honor the memory of Bruce Patterson, a member of the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2002 and the Senate from 2003 to 2010; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Patterson family as evidence of our lasting esteem for his memory.