Patrick Stinnett is Florissant 2015 Veteran of the Year

Post author:independentnws
Post published:October 12, 2015
Post category:Florissant / Health / Seniors
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Patrick Stinnett, former city council member, has been named the Florissant Veteran of the Year. He will be in the forefront riding in the annual city’s Veteran’s Day Parade on Sunday, Nov. 8 through Florissant. He will honored with a ceremony after the parade at a reception at the James J. Eagan Center.

Stinnett served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam war and has continued to serve in military and civilian roles throughout his career. For his service in the Vietnam campaign in 1966 and 1968, he received the United States Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters. During the TET Offensive he was a member of a tactical attack group in the Hue City Area. As a member of the Century Club, Pat is among those who flew over 100 combat missions. He remains as active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the American Legion and The Vietnam Veterans of America.

Stinnett has served his community as president of the Florissant Area Athletic Association, Florissant City Council member of Ward 6, chairman of the Valley of Flowers Festival, block captain of the neighborhood watch association, and a member of the Florissant Emergency Management Commission. He has also served as a youth baseball coach in the Florissant area for over 20 years.

For 40 years Stinnett worked in what began as the Bell System and is now AT&T. He began working as a lineman and completed his career as an Area Manager of operations. During this time he was responsible for crews of technicians who provided voice and data service to residential and business customers in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Together with wife Mary Helen, Stinnett raised three children and remained in Florissant for over 35 years. Their two daughters (Stephanie and Katie) are current Florissant residents as well. Son Seth is serving in his 14th year with the United States Air Force at Eielson Air Force Base, Fairbanks, Alaska.

Pat presently volunteers with the USO at St. Louis Lambert Airport and works with veterans at the Jefferson Barracks complex.