James Patton (Pat) LeGory

James LeGory

James Patton (Pat) LeGory, passed away on December 30, 2018 in Rockville, Maryland. Born in Crockett, Texas, the only child of Bessie and Joe Gus LeGory. Pat lived a charmed life as the first grandchild of the small town’s much-loved local celebrity, Congressman Nat Patton.

Pat’s grandfather, the Honorable Nathaniel Albright “Nat” Patton, Sr., served as the Seventh Texas Congressional District Representative in the U.S. Congress from 1935-1945. He was known, in Lady Bird Johnson’s words, as “a professional East Texan,” dressed in an all-white suit and bow tie, and infamously referred to everyone, even Queen Elizabeth, as “Cousin.” President Roosevelt appreciated Patton’s flair and good-nature, and in turn affectionately called him, as did everyone else, “Cousin Nat.”

Due to all this notoriety, stories of Pat’s everyday goings-on appeared in the city paper on a regular basis. One such story was a simple blurb about Pat going off to summer camp – yes, indeed, this was “news!”

Early on Pat exhibited musical talents and eventually mastered the piano, drums, baritone trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, and the bass horn. In high school, he formed a quintet named the “Pat LeGory Band”, in which he played the drums, arranged music, doubled on trumpet and clarinet, and was even a vocalist. The band played all over town, was broadcast on the radio, and once appeared on TV!

After high school, Pat went off to Tyler Junior College where he was awarded a music scholarship. Soon after, he matriculated to the University of Texas, following the footsteps of many family members (including his father, mother, and grandfather) where he enjoyed college life. He was the President of his Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity’s pledge class, and later Fraternity Vice President. He played in both the College Dance and All District Bands, worked on the school newspaper, played on the golf team, was voted “Most Friendly” and in 1964 received his B.A. in Marketing and Management with a minor in Music.

After college he moved to Washington, DC and began working on the “Hill” as a Congressional Aide from 1964-1966 under Congressman John Dowdy of Texas which sometimes had him doing odd jobs in the House folding room or even as the “elevator boy” in the reserved Congressional elevators, but he loved every minute of it and from it formed lifelong friendships and valuable professional connections.

Pat was quite busy those first few years in DC. He met his first wife, Patricia (who also goes by Pat), and they dated for a few years before marrying in 1966 and having their first child, Jennifer, in 1967. He began studying law at night at the Mount Vernon School of Law and earned his L.L.B. in 1968. He also clerked at a law firm and took a job with GEICO around this time. The couple had their second child, another girl, Laura, in 1969. He continued his legal studies at the University of Baltimore, where, in 1970, he received his Juris Doctorate. And in 1971, their third and final child was born - you guessed it, another girl; Martha.

In the early 1970s Pat went into computer sales and did quite well at it. Eventually he moved into government consulting and one corporation he worked for made him an official Congressional Liaison. By the late 1970s he was registered under the Lobby Act as a Lobbyist representing five corporations.

In 1979 he branched out on his own and became the President, Director, Founder, and General Counsel of the Computer and Information Sciences Corporation in Fairfax, Virginia, with more than 40 employees in his charge. This big entrepreneurial step paved his professional path moving forward as Pat would go on to establish and direct many successful firms including the KRICIS Corporation, The Oxford Group, and Integrated Computer Equipment Incorporated.

He was remarried again in 1982 to his long-time sweetheart, the beloved Mary Clay, and they enjoyed 11 years of marriage prior to her premature and grievous death in 1993. Pat suffered his own unfortunate medical setback shortly thereafter and subsequently retired to spend the remainder of his years in the rolling countryside of Lovettsville, Virginia.

Pat loved genealogy and well before the days of the internet was able to trace his family roots all the way back to the Mayflower! His research took him and Mary Clay all around the world digging through old libraries, courthouses, and endless county clerk’s offices. One year he bound these remarkable works into a beautiful book and gifted them to every member of the family. He also secured memberships for all three of his daughters within The National Society of the Children of the American Revolution, and of course one for himself within The National Society Sons of the American Revolution using his family tree prowess.

Pat enjoyed memberships at the (now defunct) Regency Racquet Club and Westwood Country Club both in McLean, Virginia, and loved bringing the whole family to the “Club” for “a soak and a steam” and a nice dinner afterwards.

He also relished boating and many fun years were spent out on the Potomac River on his 34-foot cabin cruiser that he lovingly named “Snuggle Up” in honor of his three girls.

Among his many achievements Pat was honored with several awards and held memberships in countless assemblages, some of which are listed below: Inter-American Bar Association, Honorary Texas Ranger, National Contract Management Association, State Director of Antique Oldsmobile Club of America, United States National Guard, American Marketing Association, St. Matthews United Methodist Church Deacon, Marquis Who’s Who, Master Mason, Association of Old Crows.

Pat was known for his good nature, kind heart, quick wit, great expressions, one-of-a-kind stories, playing the piano at the drop of a hat, his warm smile and wonderful laugh. He will be forever missed by many in Virginia, Maryland, Washington, DC, Texas, and beyond.

He is survived by his daughter, Ms. Jennifer Kennedy of Chantilly, Virginia, grand-daughter Shelby Lemmon of Reston, Virginia, and grand-son Jack Kennedy of Chantilly, Virginia. Daughter Mrs. Laura Adó and son-in-law Mr. Gabriel Adó of Gaithersburg, Maryland, grand-son Jacob Patton Adó of Baltimore, Maryland, and grand-daughter Mary Adó of Gaithersburg, Maryland. Daughter Mrs. Martha Le, son-in-law Mr. Minh Le, grand-daughter Elena Le, and grand-son James Le, all of Washington, DC. Seven cousins, Ms. Patsy Patton of Crockett, Texas, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde W. Smith, Jr. of White City, Oregon, Mr. and Mrs. James Patton, and Mr. and Mrs. Gary Brizendine all of Huntsville, Texas.

A memorial service will be held at St. Matthews United Methodist Church, 8617 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, Virginia, on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at 11 a.m. Interment will take place at the Glenwood Cemetery in Crockett, Texas in the Spring.