Albert Patterson (1894-1954) was a prominent Alabama attorney and politician. As the Democratic nominee for state attorney general in 1954, Patterson promised to "clean up" Phenix City, in Russell County, Alabama, which was largely run by organized crime and corrupt politicians. On June 18, 1954, soon after his primary victory, Patterson was murdered, shocking the state government into action. Patterson had predicted that it would take the state 10 years to accomplish the eradication of Phenix City's institutionalized vice and corruption. His murder sparked changes that achieved that goal in only seven months.

On the evening of June 18, 1954 Patterson left his law office in Phenix City's Coulter Building at about 9:00 p.m. As he was entering his car in a nearby parking lot, an assailant approached the car and shot him three times. Patterson stumbled back to the sidewalk and died within minutes. The assailant was not identified by the people who rushed to help Patterson.

The actual investigation into the murder was supervised and conducted under the direction of Acting Attorney General Bernard Sykes, Jr. with a staff of civilian investigators and attorneys. Phenix City and Russell County were placed under limited martial law declared by Governor Gordon Persons. National Guard Units operated both the Sheriff's Office and the Phenix City Police Department.

Albert Frederick Fuller, former Chief Deputy Sheriff of Russell County, was convicted of this crime and sentenced to serve a life sentence.