Oakland civil rights leader and former East Bay Municipal Utility District Director William “Bill” Patterson, who had been called the “Conscience of the District,” died at the age of 94 on Tuesday.
Patterson was the first Black director at EBMUD, where he served for 25 years championing equity for the water agencies 1.4 million customers, guided public health efforts to address lead in schools, and promoted environmental sustainability for the Mokelumne watershed.
“Bill Patterson was a devoted public servant whose exemplary leadership and thoughtful voice strengthened our board and enhanced our ability to serve our East Bay community,” EBMUD Board President Marguerite Young said in a statement announcing Patterson’s passing. “His passion for people, his integrity, and his readiness to work collaboratively will be deeply missed by his colleagues, staff and the many residents whose lives he touched.”
Patterson was elected to the EBMUD Board of Directors in 1997, representing swaths of Oakland in Ward 6 for 27 years until his retirement in 2024. Outside of the water district, Patterson was a three-term president of the Oakland NAACP to strengthen inclusion and investment in the East Bay’s Black community. Current Ward 6 director Valerie Lewis said Patterson’s legacy is tied to the success of EBMUD.
“Bill’s legacy is woven into the fabric of EBMUD and the East Bay,” said Valerie Lewis, EBMUD Director for Ward 6. “He was a mentor, a bridge builder, a staunch believer in the power of informed decision making, and a fierce advocate for the people he served. His compassion and conviction inspired all of us to lead with heart, courage, and purpose.”
Newly elected Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, right, is sworn in next to Bill Patterson, a longtime civic leader in Oakland, at City Hall in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, May 19, 2025. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)
That includes Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, who described him as a “positive force in the lives of generations of Oakland youth.” She praised him for his public service and his mentorship to legendary Oakland figures over the years like basketball hall of famer Bill Russell, baseball greats Frank Robinson and Joe Morgan, and former Oakland Mayor Lionel Wilson.
“Bill was a close friend, a mentor, and an unwavering champion for Oakland’s children and families. When I was sworn in as Oakland’s Mayor at City Hall, it was Bill who held my grandfather’s Bible – a moment that symbolized our deep personal bond, and his role as a steady hand guiding this city’s future.” Lee said. “Even as our city faced tremendous challenges, Bill never stopped making this city better for all of us.”