2012 Gems & Jewels Honoree

Ted Patrick

Ted Patrick is the proud husband of 56 years to his wonderful wife, Ruth. They had six children Teddy, Michael (deceased), Ann, Dion (deceased), Timothy, and Terrance who have brought him great joy and inspiration. He also has eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who keep him very active. A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Ted is a spiritual man who has devoted his life to his family and community. Ted is a faithful member of Bethel Memorial AME Church.

Ted worked at Convair for over nine years and that is where he saw the need to get involved in the community fighting for equal opportunity in the work force. During that time Ted organized and was the president of the Chollas Democratic Club. He played a powerful role in getting the people in the community to vote. He went from door to door talking about the importance of voting. He was very active in the political change and instrumental in organizing civil rights leaders. He made an impact on large businesses such as SDG&E to hire minorities by picketing downtown and in the community.

When our community became unsafe in the 60s because of gangs and drugs Ted came up with the unique idea to organize the Volunteer Parents Program. The parents and the police department were trained and worked together. The parents rode in the cars with the police and volunteered for school activities and made themselves visible all around the community. It was very effective and it lowered the crime rate with positive results. Ted won the National Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge Award for implementing the Volunteer Parents Program. The program was then implemented in many inner cities across the nation.

Ted was so influential that Governor Reagan hired him as Special Representative in Human Relations. During that time he became the sounding board for African Americans. The community trusted him and he worked diligently to resolve their issues. He was instrumental in convincing Governor Reagan that a Black bank was needed in the community. Thus Pacific Coast was formed on Logan Avenue.

While working for the Governor, Ted was contacted by a parent saying that her child was missing and in a religious cult. Ted then started investigating and it was brought to light that numerous cult leaders had set up sites in the rural and remote city. Through the process of hypnosis their goal was to convince and persuade young people to abandon their families, homes, careers and schools to become their followers and disciples. Hundreds of young people were being swallowed up daily by these cults and organizations. Ted had the courage and wisdom to function as a trailblazer and implement a deprogramming process that counteracted the false teachings of the cult leaders. Under Ted’s direction hundreds of young people were freed from the mental slavery that had been imposed upon them by cult organizations.

Ted is also involved with The Friends of the Library and a very active member of the George L. Stevens Senior Center.