J M Patton

Following two years of college at NMMI (New Mexico Military Institute) in Roswell; New Mexico; J.M. Patton attended the United States Military Academy at West Point with the Class of 1973 for two years. A shoulder injury and an unsuccessful surgery yielded a medical discharge at the end of his second year at West Point. His departure from West Point was devastating to him; but he continued his education and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics at Baylor University. After graduation; he entered the workplace while starting work on a novel based on and correlating with his experiences at West Point. After successful years with a large U.S. computer company; his career evolved to various officer positions in finance: trust banking; executive/professional banking; stockbroker; President of a securities firm; and President of a bank-owned trust company. He then embarked on a career change when given the opportunity to teach high school history and mathematics in a small New Mexico rural community. Here; along with his teaching responsibilities; he initiated and coached a six-man football team. In 2007; the New Mexico Military Institute asked him to return and join their faculty as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics. After retiring in 2014; with all his endeavors and professional achievements; he counts himself truly blessed to have had the opportunity to influence students’ lives for eighteen great years. He has a love for Christ and a passion for strict construction of the Constitution. He and his wife Debbie live in rural New Mexico. They have five sons and sixteen grandchildren. Post note: Five years after his shoulder injury at West Point; the Houston Medical Center through the VA hospital performed a nine-hour “Let’s-see-what-we-might-do-to-fix-this-shoulder” surgery; which has served him well since.