T. Patton Adams

Thomas Patton Adams IV (born February 16, 1943) is a retired American politician and lawyer who served as a Columbia, South Carolina city councilman and as the 68th Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina. Adams also served in the Vietnam War as an officer in the United States Army Ordnance Corps, earning a Bronze Star Medal. Since 1986, he has served as the civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army for South Carolina, an appointment which in 2001 was extended for his lifetime. He is a recipient of the state's highest civilian honor, the Order of the Palmetto.

Education Patton Adams is an alumnus of Columbia High School, and was very active in the school's student council. He attended Washington and Lee University where he earned his bachelor's degree in political science in 1965.

Career After returning from Vietnam, Adams worked as a lawyer and began his political career in 1971 when he helped form the Shandon Neighborhood Council and served as its inaugural vice-president. He wanted to give the neighborhood he grew up in a voice in Columbia. At this time, Adams also took the lead in developing Riverfront Park. Adams' mayoral tenure ended in 1990 and was succeeded by Bob Coble.

Mayor of Columbia, SC During Adams' tenure as mayor he created Memorial Park, chaired the drive to build the S.C. Vietnam Memorial, and transformed a worn-out industrial downtown area into Finlay Park, formally known as Sidney Park when the city was created in 1786. However, by 1996, all State v. City of Columbia cases concluded that the city's annexation was within legal right.

Later career Adams focused on practicing law at his private firm until 1998. Then he became the general counsel and vice president for the South Carolina Hospital Association handling government relations in Columbia and Washington, D.C. He stayed in this position at the SCCID until his retirement in 2017, where he selected Hugh Ryan to be his successor.

Personal life Patton married his wife, Jacquelyn (Jackie) Culbertson Adams, in 1968 shortly after graduating law school. They have three sons and four grandsons.