The Blade, (Toledo, OH) - Thursday, February 11, 1999: Lionel Patterson, a former manager of downtown development for Toledo who led the charge for downtown housing and who was a worker on the Jeep project, died Tuesday in his home on Collingwood Boulevard. He was 47.

He died of lung cancer, said his wife, Josie. In his Jan. 26 State of the City speech, Mayor Carty Finkbeiner asked others to say a prayer for Mr. Patterson.

As a member of the city's law department and as manager of downtown development, Mr. Patterson was an important figure in numerous city projects, said Barry Broome, Toledo's development director.

''He wasn't just a competent lawyer; he was a top-flight development pro. He was a rare talent for the city to combine two disciplines successfully,'' he said.

Mr. Patterson spearheaded the drive for downtown housing, quarterbacking the conversion of the former Lasalle department store into apartments, Mr. Broome said.

He worked on the Jeep project, in addition to COSI, the Commodore Perry, the Hillcrest, and Owens Corning's world headquarters, he said.

Mr. Patterson was a consummate professional who was a pleasure to work with, said Sabrina Grimm, a loan officer for the city's department of development.

''He would challenge a roomful of people to make a deal better,'' Mr. Broome agreed.

Born in Harlem, N.Y., Mr. Patterson came to Toledo in 1976. A graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, Mr. Patterson received a master's degree in business administration in 1981 and a law degree in 1987, both from the University of Toledo.

After some private practice and employment by the Toledo Legal Aid Society as a staff attorney, he became a city attorney in 1992. Two years later, he became manager of downtown development before returning to the law department as a senior attorney in 1996.

In his spare time, Mr. Patterson enjoyed golfing. He was also a wonderful cook, said Marjorie Early, the wife of his cousin, Dennis.

''He always made us a special meal of gumbo. It was his specialty,'' she said.

Mr. Patterson was an outdoorsman. He often took hiking and camping trips with friends to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, his wife said.

The city's law department is distributing a request for people to make donations to the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority to buy prepaid college credits for Mr. Patterson's daughter, Lyesha, who is a junior at Woodward High School.

''He was concerned about his daughter's well-being,'' Mrs. Grimm said.

Surviving are his wife, Josie Patterson; daughter, Lyesha Ja'net Keys Patterson; brother, Clarence Eugene Mitchell, and sisters, Catherine and Tysha Keys.

The body will be in Dale Funeral Home, 572 Nebraska Ave., after 3 p.m. tomorrow, with a wake service at 6 p.m. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Family Baptist Church, 1002 West Bancroft St.

The family requests tributes to the Hospice of Northwest Ohio or the charity of the donor's choice.