CLEVELAND, Tenn. (Jan. 20, 2009)—Lou Patten, partner with Cornerstone Insurance Group, received the Robert W. Varnell Jr. Leadership Award during awards presentations at the 83rd Annual Meeting of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce. The meeting convened Tuesday, Jan. 20, in the Professional Development Center of Life Care Centers of America.

Lou Patten

Workman continued, “I have been a friend and professional contemporary of Lou’s for more than 20 years. In his personal and professional dealings, Lou has demonstrated a very high degree of ethical and moral standards for himself, as well as the people around him. Bob was a dear personal friend of mind, and Lou truly exemplifies the leadership qualities of Robert Varnell.”

Patten grew up in Cleveland, attended Baylor School and graduated from The University of Tennessee, Nashville. He joined Insurance Incorporated in 1976 after working for USF&G Insurance as an underwriter.

“Lou and I worked together at Insurance Incorporated for almost 25 years,” Jeff Morelock, president of Insurance Incorporated, said. “Lou was very active in our industry, serving as president of the Insurors of Tennessee.”

Patten earned the professional designation of CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter) in 1983. In addition to holding the office of president of Insurors of Tennessee, which is a statewide organization for independent insurance agents, he also served the state organization as a board member and chaired the Legislative Committee.

Nominator Carl Hite, president of Cleveland State Community College and 2009 chairman of the board for the Chamber of Commerce, describes the 2009 Varnell Award recipient as “such a likeable person, always looking out for the best interests of this community. He has served it well in his long and distinguished career.”

“Diverse” best describes Patten’s community service. He served eight years as Tennessee State Senator 1987-1994 and was actively involved in bringing the 1996 Olympic whitewater events to the Ocoee River.

He is a member of the Kiwanis Club and past president of the club. He has served on the United Way of Bradley County Board in various leadership capacities and received United Way’s William F. Johnson Sr. Community Service Award in 1986. Patten also served on the Board of Trustees for both Bradley Memorial Hospital and Cleveland State Community College Foundation. He has also been a member of MainStreet Cleveland and chaired the Courthouse Renovation Committee.

Passionate about the need for a general aviation airport for Bradley County, Patten has been a member of the Cleveland Municipal Airport Authority since it formed in 2004 and served as a member of the Airport Task Force of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce.

He is also a member of or has been employed by an organization that is a Chamber of Commerce member since 1956. He has served the Chamber as a member of the Board of Directors and as chairman of the board. His Chamber work also includes service as vice chairman of the Climbing to New Heights capital campaign.

“The leadership provided by Lou was a major reason for the success of the Climbing to New Heights campaign,” Hite noted. “I have also seen him jump to the forefront with other issues facing the Chamber and the community. He does not wait to be called. He steps up to the plate and delivers.”

Patten also manifests leadership qualities in his church. A long-time member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, he is a licensed Chalice bearer, a licensed lay reader and a member of the Vestry. He also serves St. Luke’s as a Sunday school teacher, youth adviser and delegate to the annual Diocesan Convention.

“Lou is very active in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church,” fellow church member Gary Farlow said. “He has served on the church Vestry as an officer, as well as on stewardship, long-range planning and finance committees. He is also a long-term, regular member and leader in the church’s Friday morning men’s prayer breakfast.”

Patten and his family started an annual college scholarship fund as a memorial to his father, Buddy Patten, for children from St. Luke’s.

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