20 Under 40: Patrick Bobo

Patrick Bobo
Patrick Bobo
photo Patrick Bobo

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PATRICK BOBO, 37

In-house attorney at Coyote Logistics; first-generation college graduate; former Chattanooga City Attorney; occasional Special Judge at Chattanooga's City Court; president for Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga board; division commander for Sigma Nu Fraternity and chapter advisor for Sigma Nu's UTC Colony; Leadership Chattanooga graduate ('13); former chairman of the Your Vote Matters initiative; husband; father of three.

What is your anthem or theme song? "No Hard Feelings," by The Avett Brothers.

If you were a musician, what would your stage or band name be? Between the Lines - a tribute to one of my favorite Sturgill Simpson songs.

If you were starting a band, who from your life would you pick to be in it and why?

My wife, Kellie Barry, a teacher at Signal Mountain Christian School and beautiful with a great voice, would make a perfect lead singer. She's also one of the wisest people I know and can be our voice of reason and moral compass.

Brent McLean, COO/CFO at Chattanooga Whiskey, will supply the whiskey and the comic relief, as well as manage the business.

David Martin, owner of Heed Public Relations, is a great writer and clever, and can help write the songs and market the band.

Kyle Bryant, co-owner of Market Street Partners, could manage the finances, and he wouldn't accept anything other than great music.

Steve Medlin, IT director at Jackson Furniture, can manage the website and win any arguments in the most sarcastic way possible.

Craig Smith, business programmer at Unum, is funny and would keep us on our toes. If we got hungry on the road, we could always send him to catch some fish.

Which member of the band would you be?

A supporting member onstage but the band's manager/producer behind the scenes. I don't necessarily want the glory, but I do like to be in charge!

If you achieved star status, what would you hope it would be for?

Well-written songs and quality concert performances. Basically anti-pop music.

Random green room demand?

DAVID pumpkin seeds.

Who are your top influencers (not necessarily musically)?

If we're the combination of the five people we spend the most time with, then probably the people in the band. I'd add my parents; my aunt, Shanna Brooks - she's like a big sister to me; Mike Harrell, CEO of Latitude Advisors; and my boss, Jason Rice, general counsel at Coyote Logistics.

Which musical style best describes your personality?

I like to talk about philosophy, religion, politics and current events, which lends itself to the singer-songwriter genre. And nobody really knows what Americana is (we know it when we see it), so my diverse interests probably fit that genre.

Who would write the soundtrack to your life and why?

Jason Isbell. Best songwriter and storyteller out there, so he could definitely make me sound more interesting than I really am.

First album you bought for yourself?

Probably Roy Orbison's "In Dreams" album. I was obsessed with him as a kid. He's a legend that most people have forgotten.

If you could change one thing about Chattanooga, what would it be?

Chattanooga desperately needs a year-round, low-barrier shelter to serve our homeless community. For most people outside of downtown Chattanooga, this is a population that is out of sight, out of mind. We must do a better job of serving and loving them.

To what cause would you donate the proceeds from your first benefit concert?

Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga, so that they can help transition more homeless children and military veterans into permanent housing. I serve as president of the Family Promise board, and most do not realize that there are an estimated 1,700 homeless children in the Hamilton County school district.

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