By Tom Kirvan
Legal News
It was February 2007, during his annual “State of the County” address, that L. Brooks Patterson unveiled plans for a county-sponsored half-marathon race.
The Oakland County Executive envisioned the event as a way to “enhance the quality of life for residents of Oakland County by promoting healthy, active lifestyles.” It would serve as one of the linchpins of a wellness initiative for county residents.
Within a matter of days, however, plans for the inaugural race would be transformed into a posthumous tribute to Patterson’s beloved son.
Brooks Stuart Patterson, affectionately known to family and friends as “Brooksie,” was killed in a snowmobiling accident in Genesee County on February 10, 2007, just three days after his father had trumpeted the inaugural race. The younger Patterson, married and the father of three young children, figured to be among the event participants. He was an avid outdoorsman and a dedicated family man, focusing his life on his wife, Jessie, and the couple’s three children, Ryder, Luke, and Marlee Tru. The 28-year-old Lake Orion resident owned a residential construction company and was “a man of deep faith who was very active in his church,” according to his father.
“He had a tremendous zest for life and loved the outdoors, enjoying skiing, mountain climbing, and the like,” said Patterson, who along with his wife, Kathy, has three other children. “The way he lived life was an inspiration to many others.”
His nickname, fittingly, will lead the “Way” as plans for this year’s eighth annual event on September 27 take shape. Shortly after the tragic death, the race committee voted to name the event in Patterson’s honor.
The 2014 version of the Brooksie Way, according to organizers led by Race Director Deb Kiertzner, attracted 5,800 runners and walkers. The course begins and ends at the Meadow Brook Music Festival on the campus of Oakland University and includes parts of the Clinton River and Paint Creek trails, Rochester Hills, and downtown Rochester.
“When I first began thinking about this event nine years ago, I thought all that would be involved was to get 2,000 runners to the starting line, fire the gun, and that would be it,” Patterson said with a hearty laugh. “I soon found out that an event of this type is a huge undertaking.”
As such, Kiertzner serves as Race Director, building a network of volunteers and sponsors to help ensure the event’s success. The half-marathon race is just part of the event offerings, which also include 5-kilometer and 10-km races as well as a Kids’ Race.
Kiertzner, lauded by Patterson as the “finest race director there is,” has headed the event from the get-go and formerly served as director of the Crim Festival of Races in Flint.
“We are off to a good start with the number of registrants, which is encouraging since the general trend across the country has been to see a downturn in race participation from the year before,” Kiertzner said. “Although it is very early in the registration process, we hope to continue to build momentum over the coming months.”
Now known as The HealthPlus Brooksie Way, the event has become one of the “premier road races in Michigan,” according to Patterson.
“The community has embraced the Brooksie and the proceeds are given back to the community through programming that supports and promotes healthy and active lifestyles through Brooksie Way Minigrants.”
Over the years, more than $125,000 has been awarded to grant recipients to support local health and fitness activities. The grants are awarded three times a year, Patterson indicated.
“Our goal this year is to attract more than 6,000 participants,” said Patterson, a former Oakland County prosecutor who is now serving his sixth term in office as county executive.
Adding to the draw will be the presence of one of the sport’s icons, former Olympian Bill Rodgers. A four-time winner of the New York Marathon, Rodgers became an American running legend in the 1970s with an unprecedented string of victories, including four Boston Marathon titles.
“He loves our race and he has been very supportive of it from the beginning,” Patterson said of the 67-year-old hall of famer.
Olympic gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson and Boston Marathon winner Greg Meyers also have participated in the Brooksie Way, adding even more luster to the event.
As in past years, Patterson figures to have a special gleam in his eyes on race morning when he gazes out an expected throng of runners, many wearing colorful “HealthPlus Brooksie Way” T-shirts emblazoned with an artsy race logo. He will be proud of all the volunteers, sponsors, and participants who teamed with him on an effort born out of the desire to promote physical fitness in Oakland County and beyond. But, of course, for a father missing a son, it will be much more than that.
“It will be a day to remember,” Patterson said.
In more ways than one.
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