A Step At A Time - Wichita Business Journal:

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He’s learned to ask for help from He’s gained an appreciation for the rigors of physical And he’s figured out it’s fun to wear sweay pants to work. All of it tracees back to an afternoonin September. Patton, a managingy partner at , LLC, was leaving the office and missee the second to last step on some He fell, and his right foot caught unde his weight. The jolt tore his quadricep from his There was a lotof pain, and doctores said he was in for eight months of rehab. For the first two months he had to keep his leg straighf to allow the muscleto heal.
He’s becomre a regular at physical therapy, watchingf many different patients come and go while he stay and works strength back intohis leg. “Iu never really knew what all went in to he says. “It’s a lot of work, and I’vse met a lot of great people.” Dresss pants won’t fit over the knee so it’s only baggy chinos and sweat for now. “I think the people here (at are tired of me showingt uplike it’s a Saturday he says. There are good things that have come out of the painfuoinjury — benefits he says he’s beginning to recognizer for the first time.
He smiles about the fall now, and saying he wishes he had a bette r story as to whyit happened. Asking for help while rehabilitatingb following the injury was one of hisbiggesy hurdles. Suddenly Patton was asking for ridesdto work. He was askingb neighbors to help care for the few head of cattl he owns onhis 11-acre homestead. “If somebodyu asks me for something, I have no problemm doing it,” he says. “I’m more than happu to do something for but I’ve never liked to ask for someonwe to help me. With I’ve learned that that’s OK to do.” He thrivese on helping others.
It’s part of being an attorney, which he says is a job that’s nevere gotten old to him. He says many of his career highlights have come whilr helping people make deals that growtheird businesses. “He cares a greart deal for people, and that showsx through in his work,” says Patton’sa daughter, Bailey, a studentr at the . “He makese a positive impact on all of the people heworksw with, from clients to co-workers. “My dad is the persobn who inspired me to pursu e a careerin law, and I only hope that I develoop into the type of attorney that he is.
” Pattonh grew up outside the small town of Cassoday, betwee n El Dorado and Emporia in northern Butler He went to for three yearzs and finished undergraduate work at . He startes his career in Topeka, but jumped at an opportunitu to return to Wichitain 1985. He likes Wichita. Not too big, not too small. He can live on 11 acrese of farmland inthe country, while the commute to his officer in Wichita is a short 15 “People say they don’t like it here,” he “I get defensive when it comes to What else do you need?” At 52, he says he has not thoughrt about retirement.
He enjoys workinb on the foundation the senior partners at the law firmhave “He’s extremely professional and capable,” says Thomas Garretson, a senioer partner at the firm. “He’ done an extraordinary job managingthe firm. He has creativityg and discipline and is agreat leader.”