A successful career in facilities management and 4-H program development will bring a West Virginia 4-H alumnus home to serve as the program director of WVU Jacksons Mill State 4-H Camp and Lifelong Learning Center, near Weston.
Terry Lee Patterson, whose early 4-H experiences began in his familys 4-H club in Greenbrier County, will step into the multifaceted role at WVU Jacksons Mill Sept. 12.
His appointment was announced today (Aug. 23) by Larry Cote, associate provost for WVU Extension and Public Service and director of the WVU Extension Service. Patterson replaces David Mann who left the position in the fall of 2004.
As a national treasure that holds promise for future generations, WVU Jacksons Mill requires a unique stewardship of its facilities, educational programs and finances. Terry Pattersons knowledge and skills will help us bring the Mill into a new era of serving West Virginians of different ages from different communities of interests and needs,Dr. Cote said.
Prized for being the boyhood home of Civil War General Thomas J.StonewallJackson, Jacksons Mill is also praised for being the site of the nations first state 4-H camp. Jacksons Mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, the Mill continues to build a legacy of leadership education and cultural appreciation. Every year, the Mills grounds welcome diverse learners�€school children, campers, history buffs, community volunteers and artisans.
The Historic Area, a small portion of the Mills 525 acres, features an operating gristmill, cabins and a store. The popular attraction is staffed by knowledgeable guides who explain and answer questions about 19th century life.
Welcoming 100,000 guests each year, the Mill is important to the surrounding community. The Mill generates $12 million yearly for Lewis Countys economy.
The new director is expected to successfully balance the Mills three-fold mission: a learning and development center for youth and lifelong learners; a regional meeting and conference facility; and a nationally significant historic site.
A 4 -H All Star who regards the Mill as his second West Virginia home, Patterson is aware of the Mills historic and programmatic roles. His new role will be to maintain existing programs and services while guiding the facility through a transition of long-term physical plant improvements and the development of new educational programs.
I am really excited about the opportunity to serve the citizens of West Virginia. We will need to focus on many different areas of operations, including raising funds, improving facilities and meeting the needs of our clients,Patterson said.This effort is bigger than one person. It will require many different groups with various missions working toward a common goal: �€~Making the Best Betterand helping Jacksons Mill continue to be the national treasure that it is.
Since 2001, Patterson has been director of the Jamestown 4-H Educational Center, which is operated by the Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension Service in Williamsburg, Va.
Before joining Virginia Tech Extension, he supervised North Carolina State University Extensions statewide 4-H camping program and its residential and recreational facilities for more than 7 years.
In earlier positions, he served as superintendent of aquatics for the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department in Charlotte, N.C., and as a research assistant for the Department of Park, Recreation and Tourism at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C.
Patterson earned his bachelor of science in recreation and parks management from WVU . He received his master of science in recreation administration and public administration from North Carolina State University, where he is pursuing a doctorate in education.
Though he was raised in Covington, Va., Patterson spent his summers with family in Clintonville (Greenbrier County). As a West Virginia 4-H member, he often participated in state camps at WVU Jacksons Mill. He represented West Virginia as a National 4-H Award winner in Chicago, Ill., in 1980.
He and his wife, Susan, have three children, Samantha, 10; Taylor, 6, and Hope, 4.